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Diocese of Fall River, Mass.

F riday , December 20, 2013

Bishop Coleman’s Christmas Message

Mary and the Christ Child are depicted in the painting "Madonna of the Fir Tree" by Marianne Stokes.

(CNS/Bridgeman Art Library)

Dear Friends in Christ, Christmas is that wonderful moment in history when God became Man, when Jesus, the Son of God, was born a little Baby in a lowly manger in the City of David, Bethlehem.

And the Christmas celebrations that take place in our parish churches, our homes, our schools, and in our neighborhoods connect us with that distant moment in time.

On December 25, we celebrate the miracle of the birth of Christ. We remember what God had done more than 2,000 years ago. We make that miracle present again when we call to mind our Lord’s great mercy, which He has revealed to us in what the “Catechism of the Catholic Church” calls His “plan of loving kindness.”

At Christmas, we thank the Lord for all His blessings, especially for the gift of life. In manifesting Himself as a newborn Infant, God speaks to us and teaches us about the precious worth of every human life.

We take time during this holy season to thank God for our lives — even in the difficulties, in the times of sickness, economic hardship, or family crisis, in the moments of deep sadness, and in the periods when we experience personal darkness — because, we know in faith that God has redeemed us, that He is born into our hearts as the Light of the World, and that He remains in our midst and stays close to us through all our sorrows and all our joys.

We do not take the blessings we receive from the hand of God for granted, but especially at Christmas, at this moment of joy, we praise and we thank the Lord for giving Himself to us and to our world in the miracle of the Word-madeFlesh, Who comes to share and sanctify our lives.

With prayerful wishes that the blessings and love of the Christ Child fill your hearts and your homes this Christmas, I remain Sincerely yours in the Lord, Bishop of Fall River

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December 20, 2013

La Salette Shrine marks one-year anniversary of Sandy Hook tragedy

By Becky Aubut Anchor Staff

ATTLEBORO — On Dec. 14, 2012, the second deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history took place in Newtown, Conn., when Adam Lanza killed his mother, then drove to Sandy Hook Elementary School shortly after the morning bell had rung and in 11 minutes killed six adult women, 20 students who were only six- or seven-year-olds, then turned the gun on himself.

On the anniversary of what has become known as the “Newtown Tragedy,” the bells tolled 26 times at St. Rose of Lima Parish in Newtown, Conn., beginning at 9:30 a.m. — the moment Lanza shot his way into the school — and the names of the victims were read over a loudspeaker.

In Washington D.C., President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama lit 26 votive candles

set up on a table in the White House Map Room followed by a moment of silence.

And despite the threat of snow, dozens of faithful turned out to attend the service for the victims — “Through the Eyes of a Child — A Time for Peace” — held at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro on December 14, led by shrine director Father Tom Puthusseril, M.S., and sponsored by Pax Christi (Peace of Christ), a Catholic international movement which works for justice, non-violent conflict resolution and peacemaking.

During the service, lit candles and name cards for each victim lay in front of the altar while Father André “Pat” Patenaude provided the music, and children participated in singing and in the readings, including a moment where each child shared different Turn to page 24

Scores of concerned Massachusetts citizens recently descended on the State House to deliver thousands of signatures of registered voters seeking to bring the minimum wage and earned sick time issues to the forefront. Thousands of those signatures were collected through efforts of more than 20 parishes in the Fall River Diocese.

Thousands of diocesan faithful take active part in seeking justice for all area workers

By Dave Jolivet Anchor Editor

Accompanied by Santa and Mrs. Claus, Father Tom Puthusseril, M.S., director of the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro, led the procession after the service marking the one-year anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy in Newtown, Conn. Those in the procession held a candle and name card of each victim (glow sticks were provided when there were no more candles) and sang as they made their way through the snow to the outdoor Nativity. (Photo by Becky Aubut)

FALL RIVER — Thousands of faithful from the Fall River, New Bedford, Taunton and Attleboro areas became active participants in a recent petition drive to raise the minimum wage in Massachusetts and also to secure for employees in the Commonwealth the right to earn and use sick time in accordance with certain conditions.

The minimum wage in Massachusetts is currently $8 per hour, and had remained stagnant since 2008, even though cost of living continues to escalate. Massachusetts is one of 19 states that has a minimum wage above the federal minimum of $7.25, but it does not index its minimum to inflation providing for automatic increases.

In a memo sent from the Mass. Catholic Conference, the public policy office of the Catholic bishops in the Common-

wealth, to the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development, executive director James F. Driscoll stated, “Because the Commonwealth’s minimum does not provide for annual increases to keep pace with inflation, the purchasing power of that minimum wage erodes over time.

Because of this, the $8 minimum wage is projected to have a purchasing power of $6.91 by 2020.”

With so many employees in the state who are affected by this dilemma, especially those living and working in inner cities where poverty levels are increasing to staggering figures, a grassroots effort called Raise Up Massachusetts launched a petition drive to bring the issue to the ballot box.

One of the organizations working with Raise Up Massachusetts was United Interfaith Action of Southeastern Mass., a “faith-based organization founded in Turn to page 20

Music ministry enhances celebration of Christmas

By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff

FALL RIVER — For Madeleine Grace, music director and organist at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in Fall River for the past 28 years, music is really the highest form of prayer.

“Once you catch the spirit — especially when you start at a young age — it stays with you for life and it becomes your way of praying,” Grace told The Anchor.

While the airwaves and retail stores are inundated with pop songs about fictional characters like “Frosty” and “Rudolph” during this Advent season, Grace is busy selecting more reverent hymns and carols from the Church’s rich treasury of music for upcoming

Masses and services.

“The Church has quite a wonderful treasury of music from chant to polyphony to contemporary music — and we try to do something representative of all styles,” Grace said. “The music is really at the service of the Liturgy. I always go to the Scriptures and look at what the readings are trying to say and maybe pick a phrase here or there and look for something in the music that will express it.”

Noting that the current 12- to 14-member Cathedral Choir can draw from a vast repertoire of material that was first established by Father William G. Campbell, now retired, when he directed the choir in the 1970s, Grace said she tries to cherry-pick selections that Turn to page 21

Madeleine Grace, second from left, has been the music director and organist at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in Fall River since 1985. She is currently preparing for various Christmas Liturgies and concerts, including the televised Christmas Mass with Bishop George W. Coleman that will air on Christmas Day at noon.

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December 20, 2013

Area abbey’s field ‘ripe for the harvest of clean energy’ superior says

By Christine M. Willams Anchor Correspondent

WRENTHAM — Known primarily for their chocolates, the Trappistine Sisters at Mount St. Mary Abbey are gaining a reputation for “going green.” Years ago they put up a few wind turbines, and when they updated the chocolate factory two years ago, they began utilizing geothermal energy.

On December 7, the Sisters hosted a ribbon-cutting and blessing of their new solar panels. The 8.3 megawatts collected by those panels can power about 800 homes, and 100 percent of it will be purchased by the town of Franklin, which will use it to power its schools and municipal buildings.

Andrew Bernstein, managing partner of the project’s director Kearsarge Energy, said that the Sisters’ monastery is the first location in the entire state of Massachusetts to harvest these three types of renewable energy — wind, geothermal and solar. Because of all three projects, MassEnergy, a non-profit dedicated to sustainable energy, granted the Sisters their “Leadership Award” last month.

“We came to find, not only a wonderful, modest and caring group of women, but also a sophisticated group of businesswomen,” said Bernstein. “I think we built a true partnership, learned about how the abbey works and eaten far too many chocolates.”

He also praised the order’s superior, Mother Maureen McCabe, saying, “She’s kept everyone on an even keel, working to bring in a higher power when needed to accelerate timing.”

Prior to the ribbon-cutting, Mother Maureen addressed those gathered, saying that the once open fields were “ripe for the harvest of clean energy.” She called the project a “win, win, win” — for the Sisters, the town

and the project’s developers.

“I think that’s because it’s a project close to God’s heart. The world He created is protected here, and a blessing for one group becomes a blessing for all.

That’s the way God wants it to be — mutual service and mutual care,” she added.

More than two years ago, the Sisters approached Kearsarge Energy about filling some of their fields with solar panels.

The abbey, located in Wrentham, leased two fields on the property they own over the town line in Franklin. Kearsarge, based in Watertown, brought in financial firm Capital Dynamics as its partner. The investors will receive a return, the Sisters have guaranteed rental money for the land for at least the next 20 years and the town of Franklin will gain energy savings and $250,000 in tax revenue.

Politicians were on hand to congratulate the Sisters. State Rep. Jeff Roy and State Sen. Rich Ross brought citations from the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown was also present at the ribbon-cutting. He and his wife, Gail, have been supporters of the abbey for many years, and he said of the Sisters, “They welcome and love everybody, and that love transcends throughout this area, through the entire state and parts of the world.”

He also praised their creativity, business savvy and leadership in renewable energy.

Visitors of the abbey during the ribbon-cutting included June Anderson of North Attleboro who was making her first trip to visit the Sisters. She told The Anchor that she felt inspired by their simple life and their efforts to harness renewable energy.

“We’re all for going green,” she said of herself and her husband.

Mary Ricker of Stoughton, a

Father Kevin Hunt, OCSO, blessed solar panels recently installed on property owned by the Trappistine sisters at Mount St. Mary Abbey in Wrentham. The panels provide 8.3 megawatts of renewable energy. (Photo by Christine M. Williams)

lay Cistercian at the abbey, said that “going green” is “very Cistercian.”

Part of the Cistercian rule states, “The Sisters are to be concerned about conservation of the environment and to manage natural resources prudently.”

Ricker added that she is “amazed” that the more than

1,000-year-old order has adapted to modern times by harvesting renewable energy.

Two other lay Cistercians, both from the Diocese of Fall River, also praised the Sisters, calling the solar panel project “wonderful.” As usual, any conversation about the Sisters lead back to their profession

as chocolatiers.

“Have you tried the chocolate?” asked Betty Quadros of Orleans.

When asked whether she had a favorite candy, Arlene Hall of North Attleboro responded, “Yes, of course, the butter nut munch. It’s their biggest seller.”

ATTLEBORO — Calling themselves the “Voice of the Poor,” about 50 members of Attleboro area St. Vincent de Paul groups, each affiliated with a local Catholic parish, recently met with the area’s state senators and representatives to press their case for compassion and concern in state laws, programs and policies.

“Our faith and our work as Vincentians push us to do more than just provide direct aid to the needy and vulnerable in our area,” said Tom Dwyer, chairman of the Attleboro District’s Voice of the Poor Committee for Social Justice. “We wanted the legislators to hear stories about persons in need and the problems we encounter and we wanted to be sure the voice of the poor is heard on Beacon Hill in the same way that other lobbies press their causes.

When you are just struggling to survive day-to-day, it is hard to be a lobbyist.”

Legislators attending the event, which was called a Legislative Breakfast and was held at the St. Vincent de Paul Par-

ish in Attleboro, were: Senator James Timilty; an aide for Senator Richard Ross; Representative Betty Poirier; Representative Paul Heroux; Representative Steven Howitt; and Representative Jay Barrows.

The legislators listened to a number of stories about the Vincentians’ work in the Attleboro area with the poor and the needy.

Two Vincentians described the services provided at the St. John’s Clothing Center and at the St. Joseph’s Food Cellar at St. Vincent’s Parish, both in Attleboro.

Others talked about individual one-on-one experiences: young women struggling against all odds to hold their families together in the face of overwhelming financial pressures and a governmental system that seems to stymie them at every turn; a veteran down and out of luck who nonetheless gives back what he can; and a collaborative effort between the Attleboro Farmers’ Market and a group of Vincentians to provide public bus service to the relocated market so the poor and needy could shop there.

After the storytelling, the legislators and Vincentians discussed critical state laws and programs, such as proposals to increase the minimum wage and a housing bond bill, which have the potential to help those in need.

“It was an excellent exchange,” Dwyer said. “The legislators were most attentive and understanding, and clearly want to work with us to address these needs, but there are lots of pressures on them, too. We gained an appreciation of those pressures when they spoke, and we really appreciate them taking two hours of their time on a Saturday morning to listen to the ‘voice of the poor.’”

St. Vincent de Paul groups, called “Conferences,” provide a variety of aid to persons in need, ranging from food deliveries, assistance with rent and utilities, help with temporary and emergency shelter, and other similar services. In the Attleboro area, it is a fully volunteer program operating through individual Catholic parishes and relying on donations for its funding.

Voice of the Poor advocates stress social justice needs to Attleboro area state legislators

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News From the Vatican

December 20, 2013

Pope Francis is third pope to win Time’s Person of the Year honor VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis is not seeking fame or accolades, but being named Time magazine’s Person of the Year will make him happy if it helps attract people to the hope of the Gospel, said the Vatican spokesman.

“It’s a positive sign that one of the most prestigious recognitions in the international press” goes to a person who “proclaims to the world spiritual, religious and moral values and speaks effectively in favor of peace and greater justice,” said the spokesman, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi.

The choice of Pope Francis “is not surprising, given the wide appeal and huge attention” to his pontificate so far, Father Lombardi said in a recent written statement, shortly after Time announced it had named the pope for the annual feature.

“Rarely has a new player on the world stage captured so much attention so quickly — young and old, faithful and cynical — as has Pope Francis,” Time said on its website.

“With a focus on compassion, the leader of the Catholic Church has become a new voice of conscience.”

Blessed John Paul II was named Person of the Year in 1994 and Blessed John XXIII in 1962.

Other past honorees include several U.S. Presidents, Mahatma Gandhi, Adolf Hitler, Queen Elizabeth, Corazon Aquino and Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook. The magazine says the title goes to the person or idea that “for better or worse ... has done the most to influence events of the year.”

The pope “does not seek fame and success, because he serves to proclaim the Gospel and God’s love for everyone,” Father Lombardi said. But if the recognition “attracts women and men and gives them hope, the pope is happy.”

The spokesman added that Pope Francis would also be pleased if the magazine’s decision “means that many have understood, at least implicitly, this message” of hope.

Pope Francis uses incense to bless a bronze reliquary containing the relics of St. Peter the Apostle during a Mass in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. The bone fragments, which were discovered during excavations of the necropolis under St. Peter’s Basilica in the 1940s, are kept in the pope’s private chapel but had never been displayed in public. (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano)

Pope says peace is impossible without fraternity based on Christ

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In his first annual message for the World Day of Peace, Pope Francis writes that peace and social justice are impossible without a spirit of fraternity based on recognition that all men and women are children of God — a relationship fulfilled in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The nearly 5,000-word message, entitled “Fraternity, the Foundation and Pathway to Peace,” was released by the Vatican December 12 in preparation for the World Day of Peace January 1.

“Without fraternity it is impossible to build a just society and a solid and lasting peace,” the pope writes. “At the same time, it appears clear that contemporary ethical systems remain incapable of producing authentic bonds of fraternity, since a fraternity devoid of reference to a common Father as its ultimate foundation is unable to endure. True brotherhood among peoples presupposes and demands a transcendent Fatherhood.”

The pope adds that, “in a particular way, human fraternity is regenerated in and by Jesus Christ through His death and resurrection. The cross is the definitive foundational locus of that fraternity which human beings are not capable of generating themselves.”

Pope Francis surveys contemporary attacks on human dignity — including war, economic exploitation, crime, environmental pollution and violations of religious freedom — he says require awareness and practice of humanity’s brotherhood and sisterhood in Christ.

He decries a widespread “poverty of relationships as a result of the lack of solid family and community relationships,” and writes that “fraternity is generally first learned in the family, thanks above all to the responsible and complementary roles of each of its members, particularly the father and the mother.”

With regard to economic justice, the pope calls for “effective policies” to reduce income inequality and guarantee “access to capital and services, educational resources, healthcare and technology so that every person has the opportunity to express and realize his or her life project and can develop fully as a person.”

He also calls on ordinary Christians to embrace a “sober and essential lifestyle” and share their wealth, calling such practice of “detachment” a “form of promoting fraternity — and thus defeating poverty — which must be the basis of all the others.”

The current economic crisis, Pope Francis writes, offers a “fruitful opportunity to rediscover the virtues of prudence, temperance, justice and strength” that are “necessary for building and preserving a society in accord with human dignity.”

He repeats his own calls and those of previous popes for the “nonproliferation of arms and for the disarmament of all parties, beginning with nuclear and chemical weapons,” and appeals directly to “all those who sow violence and death by force of arms” to see every enemy instead as “your brother or sister, and hold back your hand!”

“Human beings can experience conversion,” the pope writes. “I wish this to be a mes-

sage of hope and confidence for all, even for those who have committed brutal crimes, for God does not wish the death of the sinner, but that He converts and lives.”

Pope Francis denounces organized crime for its role in the drug trade, environmental damage, “illicit money trafficking and financial speculation,” prostitution, human trafficking, slavery and the exploitation of migrants.

Criminal organizations of all sizes “gravely offend God, they hurt others and they harm creation, all the more so when they have religious overtones,” the pope writes.

He deplores the “inhumane conditions in so many prisons, where those in custody are often reduced to a subhuman status in violation of their human dignity and stunted in their hope and desire for rehabilitation.”

Calling for responsible and equitable use of natural resources, Pope Francis focuses on agriculture. “It is well known that present (food) production is sufficient, and yet millions of persons continue to suffer and die from hunger, and this is a real scandal,” he writes.

Underscoring the critique of globalization that has become a major theme of his teaching as pope, he observes that the “everincreasing number of interconnections and communications in today’s world makes us powerfully aware of the unity and common destiny of the nations.”

But this unity, he writes, is “still frequently denied and ignored in a world marked by a ‘globalization of indifference’ which makes us slowly inured to the suffering of others and closed in on ourselves.”

December 20, 2013

The International Church

Congressman highlights ongoing Philippines recovery efforts

Washington D.C. (CNA) — Despite facing a long path to recovery after the devastation of Typhoon Haiyan, the people of the Philippines have not given up hope, says a U.S. Congressman who recently visited the country.

“I met with numerous survivors who told us heartbreaking stories yet radiated a calm and inner peace,” said Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s global health panel.

“One man told us how his father drowned only a few feet from where we stood and how he had stoically carried many waterlogged dead bodies to a mass grave. He said he nearly collapsed emotionally, however, when he carried the lifeless body of a three-year-old girl,” the congressman continued.

“He said he just broke down, overwhelmed, and felt he could continue no more. Yet amazingly, a few hours later, there he was — determined to rebuild and overcome and full of faith in God.” Rep. Smith and Reps. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) and Al Green (D-Texas) toured the Philippines from November 22-26 as a delegation from Congress.

They discussed the ongoing response to the typhoon and the current state of its victims at a December 3 hearing at the U.S. Capitol.

The massive storm, locally known as Typhoon Yolanda, made landfall in the Philippines on November 8 with wind speeds of 195 miles per hour, the strongest storm yet recorded. The typhoon killed more

than 5,000, while 1,600 are still missing and millions have been displaced from their homes.

Rep. Smith cited the encouraging words of Archbishop Jose Palma of Cebu, who said “the typhoon was the strongest in the word … but our faith in the Lord is even stronger … no calamity or natural devastation can quench the fire of our hope.”

“The Filipino soul is stronger than Yolanda,” the archbishop said.

Sean Callahan, CEO of Catholic Relief Services, told the congressional hearing that the most urgent needs for storm victims include shelter, water, hygiene, sanitation and food.

He said the massive amount of debris keeps storm victims from returning to their homes and will pose public health threats if not addressed soon.

The relief agency is also continuing its response to help victims of the October 2013 earthquake in the Bohol province of the country.

Rep. Smith commended the relief agency’s work in an interview with CNA. “Right from the start, Catholic Relief Services was there and doing an extraordinary job of getting plastic sheeting, clean water capability, and other kinds of basics without which people would have been sicker if not dead,” he said.

Smith said the Catholic relief centers are providing “a whole lot of good things to help the people.”

He also praised the U.S. military’s “unbelievable job” in providing an emergency response.

The work of the U.S. Marines

and U.S. Navy prevented “a far higher death toll,” he said.

Storm victims’ displacement from their homes is one of the key issues facing the Philippines, the congressman said.

“Four million people are displaced. It’s unprecedented,” he said.

Rep. Smith said the emergency response is now shifting to a recovery phase. Disease epidemics are a major threat and need to be “aggressively fought.”

One risk is Dengue fever infection, which is “very painful.”

The disease is mosquito-borne and the stagnant water remaining from the typhoon provides a large breeding ground for mosquitoes.

“There’s much more that has to be done to kill these insects,” the congressman stated.

Leptospirosis, a bacterial infection transmitted through water contaminated with infected animal urine, is also a threat, as is rabies carried by stray dogs.

Furthermore, Rep. Smith said that the 19,000 Filipinos airlifted to Manila are vulnerable to exploitation by human traffickers. Pregnant woman are also especially vulnerable during the storm recovery due to a lack of clean facilities, clean blood and accessible roads to hospitals.

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The Church in the U.S.

December 20, 2013

Supreme Knight honored for his efforts to advance Marian devotion

WASHINGTON (CNS) — Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson recently received the Patronal Medal, an honor jointly bestowed Washington’s Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and The Catholic University of America.

The award — presented on an occasional basis since 1974 — is given to someone “who has rendered distinguished service in the advancement of Marian devotion, theology or general appreciation of the place of Mary in the life of the Catholic Church.”

The head of the Knights of Columbus received the medal during Mass at the national shrine.

Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl of Washington was the principal celebrant of the Mass for the feast of the Immaculate Conception.

Concelebrants included Boston Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley, OFM, Cap.; Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori, supreme chaplain of the Knights of Columbus; Bishop Michael J. Bransfield WheelingCharleston, Va., former rector of the national shrine; and Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services.

Noting the Knights of Columbus’ donations to the national shrine — including the bell tower, the Incarnation Dome and many man-hours of volunteer service — Cardinal Wuerl said that the basilica “tries to make visible everything that the words of Sacred Scripture have proclaimed for us today” and “helps us see the transcendent, the spiritual, the supernatural.”

In presenting the Patronal Medal, Msgr. Walter R. Rossi, the shrine’s rector, said that Anderson “exhibits filial devotion to Our Lady and promotes in his personal life and order-wide the important place the Blessed Virgin Mary holds in the life of faith.”

“He and the Knights of Co-

lumbus have been stalwart supporters of the national shrine for many years,” Msgr. Rossi said.

He noted that “through the gracious cooperation” of Anderson, “the Knights of Columbus usher program continues to flourish, the Mass is brought from the national shrine by television to those confined to their homes, and with the addition of the Knights of Columbus Incarnation Dome, the completion of the shrine’s Great Upper Church moved closer to becoming a reality.”

John Garvey, president of The Catholic University of America, said Anderson “has dedicated his life to serving the Church and our nation” and is a “wonderful supporter” of the university.

“Under his leadership, the Knights of Columbus have touched the lives of countless people around the world ... his strong faith and devotion to Mary underpin all that he does,” Garvey said of Anderson.

Anderson has been supreme Knight since 2000 and is a member of Catholic University’s board of trustees and the national shrine’s board of trustees and executive committee.

In accepting the medal, Anderson said the award “is an occasion to recognize the dedication of so many countless Knights of Columbus to the national shrine.”

He called it “a privilege and honor” to work with the shrine “for the honor of serving the Mother of Our Lord.”

“This great basilica calls us to Mary,” Anderson said. “It calls us to walk with her, and encourages us to see Christ through Mary’s eyes, to love Him with her heart, and to serve Him with her hands.”

Noting that the “United States and its future is in the loving hands of Mary,” Anderson prayed that “through the powerful intercession of Mary, it will always be safe.”

Members of Club Los Vaqueros Unidos (United Cowboy Club) of Wadsworth, Ill., make their way to place a rose at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines, Ill., as part of a pre-celebration of the feast day. More than 100,000 people make a pilgrimage to the shrine each year for event. (CNS photo/Karen Callaway, Catholic New World)

Funding for adult stem-cell research increasing, report finds

Washington D.C. (CNA/EWTN News) — A recent report has found that research on ethically-sourced adult stem cells is rising in popularity, leaving advocates pointing to its advantages — in ethics and outcome — over embryonic stemcell research.

The views of the scientific community are shifting with the realization that “the best hope for rapid medical advances lies with morally unproblematic alternatives,” said Chuck Donovan, president of the Charlotte Lozier Institute, to the Washington Times for a recent article.

The Charlotte Lozier Institute is the research branch of the Pro-Life Susan B. Anthony List.

Recent reports by the institute have shown significant shifts in research funding from embryonic stem cells to more successful and ethically acceptable adult stem cells.

“Money also talks,” said one of the two reports detailing the changes in funding, adding that “what the money is saying is that those viable alternatives exist and it is with them that the real therapeutic promise of regenerative medicine lies.”

Stem-cell research has been the source of much controversy, over its potential for regenerative and potentially life-saving therapies, and over the ethical questions in how the cells are obtained.

Stem cells taken from human embryos require the destruction of new human life. In the past, researchers have advocated their use because they have the potential to grow into nearly any type of tissue, making them a kind of “master cell.”

However, in clinical trials and treatments, it has been difficult to coax the cells to turn into a specific type of tissue. In addition,

therapies relying on embryonic stem cells have shown a tendency to turn into tumors and cancers following treatment.

In contrast, adult stem cells come from a variety of tissues found in newborns and adults, including the placenta, umbilical cord, bone marrow and other bodily tissues. Their extraction does not require the destruction of a human life.

While they naturally grow into a more narrow set of tissues than embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells have also been induced to form other kinds of tissues outside of their natural range.

In some cases, the stem cells can also be harvested from the patient himself, nearly eliminating the chance of the body’s rejection of the treatment.

To date, embryonic stem cells have failed to yield any successful treatments, while adult stem cells have been used to treat more than 100 diseases and conditions.

Amid concerns over the ethics of stem-cell sourcing, President George W. Bush in 2001 restricted federal funding of embryonic stem-cell research to cell lines that already existed.

Supporters of embryonic stemcell research in California reacted with a voter initiative pledging $3 billion in funding over 10 years only to research on embryonic stem cells, to be distributed through grants by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.

By 2012, however, funding at the institute had shifted, with a majority of grants — totaling $50 million — going towards research on non-embryonic stemcell projects and only $19 million in funding awarded to embryonic research.

A similar shift in funding has taken place at Maryland’s Stem

Cell Research Commission, according to a Lozier Institute report from October. In 2007, the organization funded 11 embryonic stem-cell research projects and four non-embryonic ones.

Now, it is supporting one embryonic stem-cell project and 28 non-embryonic ones.

Grants in Maryland “can also serve as an important bellwether for the direction stem-cell research is taking,” the report added, “given that the state is home to one of the nation’s most prominent sites for stem-cell research, the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.”

Dr. David Prentice, senior fellow for the Family Research Council and a researcher in cell biology, stated that researchers were told for years “that embryonic stem cells were the ‘only’ stem cells for treatment as well as lab research.”

“But even in states previously devoted exclusively to embryonic stem-cell and cloning research, the majority of grants now are going to ethical, successful adult stem-cell studies,” he commented in a statement.

“This latest news simply emphasizes what advocates of ethical stem-cell research have said for years — adult stem cells are the true gold standard for stem cells.

They are certainly golden for patients; more than 60,000 people a year around the world are currently treated with adult stem cells.”

Adult stem-cell research has shown “tremendous progress,” while embryonic stem-cell research “relies on the destruction of young human life” and has had limited success, Prentice observed.

This offers a clear choice to researchers and investors who are looking for results, he said. “Adult stem cells save lives.”

December 20, 2013

The Church in the U.S.

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‘Wave of prayer’ to end world hunger sweeps over nation’s capital

WASHINGTON (CNS) — The global “wave of prayer” to eradicate hunger reached the U.S. Capitol with participants in an interfaith prayer service asking God to guide all people to better see and understand the needs of people living in poverty.

During the recent noontime service, many of the prayers focused on government decision-makers who have targeted various federal food programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, for decreased government spending.

“We really need to pray that God will lead members of Congress, our nation’s leaders and the people of this nation to make decisions on this and other issues that will help get us to the end of hunger,” said the Rev. David Beckmann, a Lutheran minister and president of the Christian citizens’ antihunger organization Bread for the World.

The wave of prayer was one of hundreds of services that cascaded around the world at noon local time under an initiative of Caritas Internationalis, the Vatican-based federation of Catholic charities. The effort is aimed at prayer and action to relieve hunger around the world through May 2015.

Nearly 50 people crowded into a first-floor meeting room in the Capitol’s House wing to recite a prayer developed by Caritas Internationalis. They were joined by three members of Congress: Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., and Rep.

David Price, D-N.C. mestic-issues lobbyist for Net- explaining that he regularly visSeveral participants offered work, the Catholic social justice its hunger centers in his Massaprayers of thanksgiving for the lobby, prayed that low-wage chusetts district and has visited inspirational words of Pope workers receive just compen- poverty-stricken communities Francis, who has repeatedly sation for their labor as well as worldwide. “When you see a invited the world to reach out their employers to “be struck hungry child, it breaks your and care for people in need in with a sense of justice.” heart and you can’t get developed and undevelhrough Your wisdom, inspire it out of your mind. I do oped countries alike. leaders of government and of think when people see “Let’s pray not just as things firsthand they a symbol, but believing business, as well as all the world’s citi- get enlightened.” that our prayers have zens, to f ind just and charitable soluAcross town at The power,” said the Rev. tions to end hunger by assuring that all Catholic University of Jim Wallis, president of people enjoy the right to food.”

America, the message Sojourners, who joined was much the same as the service as he was in Church leaders called the sixth day of a water-only “May they receive in justice on God to inspire government fast as part of the Fast for Fami- the resources to feed themselves and business leaders to help lies tent community outside the and their families,” prayed the end global hunger during a Capitol on the National Mall. member of the Sisters of Char- prayer service.

The organization is utilizing ity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl of prayer, public witness and fastThe Rev. Gary Cook, a staff ing in pursuit of comprehensive member of Bread for the World, immigration reform. asked God for forgiveness as he The hungry are “part of our “confessed our complicity” in family,” Rev. Wallis prayed. decisions that cause hunger in “We lift them up now. We in- others. “Help us rearrange our tercede for them and we pray priorities so that all may eat,” that somehow their stories he said. would reach this place,” he said.

Afterward, McGovern, who “We pray that you help us is Catholic and co-chairmen understand that this isn’t just the hunger caucus in Congress, politics, it isn’t just policy, it isn’t told Catholic News Service about who wins and loses. It’s that hunger in the U.S. could about particular mothers, par- end if elected representatives ticular fathers, particular chil- felt it was prudent to do so. dren. It’s names we know. So “Hunger is a political conwe lift up those names in this dition,” he said. “We can solve place,” he said. this problem. All we need is the Those offering prayers also political will.” remembered the plight of unHe said support for federdocumented immigrants the ally-funded food and nutrition world over, American children programs has waned because who go to school hungry and “critics of these programs crethe people living in tent camps ate a distortion” by portraying in war-ravaged Syria and in enrollees as criminals or as unHaiti, nearly four years after a willing to work. devastating earthquake.

“When you see the face of Sister Marge Clark, a do- hunger, it changes you,” he said,

“T

A young woman prays next to students and clergymen during a recent prayer service to end world hunger at Caldwell Chapel on the campus of The Catholic University of America in Washington. According to Caritas Internationalis, the Vatican-based federation of Catholic charities, about one in eight people experienced chronic hunger or undernourishment during 2010-2012. (CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn)

Washington, a university trustee, led students in prayer at Caldwell Chapel, asking God for assistance in sharing “food with all members in this global family.”

“Through Your wisdom, inspire leaders of government and of business, as well as all the world’s citizens, to find just and charitable solutions to end hunger by assuring that all people enjoy the right to food,” Cardinal Wuerl prayed.

Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley, OFM, Cap., of Boston, Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Ky., president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and university president John Garvey joined the prayer service.

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December 20, 2013

Anchor Editorial

‘Evangelii Gaudium’ Part II

This past Saturday an Italian newspaper, La Stampa, published an interview with Pope Francis, in which the Holy Father clarified that his intent in writing “Evangelii Gaudium” (“the Joy of the Gospel”) was not to promote communism. “The Marxist ideology is wrong,” he said to the interviewer.

The pope had been criticized by many people on the right for what he had written in the apostolic exhortation. Even such moderate conservatives as David Brooks said on PBS that he was “more Catholic than the pope,” because he was defending capitalism.

In sections 16 and 17 of “Evangelii Gaudium,” entitled “The scope and limits of this exhortation,” Pope Francis wrote that he had “chosen to present some guidelines which can encourage and guide the whole Church in a new phase of evangelization, one marked by enthusiasm and vitality.” He did emphasize that he was not going to personally give a prescription for how to solve all of societies ills, “Nor do I believe that the papal magisterium should be expected to offer a definitive or complete word on every question which affects the Church and the world. I am conscious of the need to promote a sound ‘decentralization.’”

That being said, among the seven points which the pope gave in his list of guidelines (Father Landry, on the facing page, discusses one of the points, “the homily and its preparation”), was “the inclusion of the poor in society.” He then discussed that topic in sections 186 to 216 of the exhortation. He begins by saying, “Our faith in Christ, Who became poor, and was always close to the poor and the outcast, is the basis of our concern for the integral development of society’s most neglected members.” This is a good message for us to pray over as we prepare to celebrate Christmas — praying about how God the Son allowed Himself to become one of the poorest of the poor, how He always reached out to the poor with love, how we personally interact with the poor, how we recognize our spiritual poverty before God. Much earlier in the document, when the pope began with an overview of the world situation, the pope listed many challenges facing Christians who are trying to evangelize, such as increasing secularism and the breakdown of the family. He spoke about the “throw-away culture,” “the economy of exclusion,” and the “new idolatry of money.” Like the old Carol Burnett character who pronounced the word “money” in an elongated way when criticizing greed or like the Frances McDormand, police chief in the movie “Fargo,” pointing out to the murderer that “there is more to life than money, Pope Francis is trying to wake people up from this tactic of the devil to pull us away from loving God and neighbor. He knows we cannot serve God and mammon and wants to free the poor and the rich from this evil situation.

The quote of the pope from the exhortation which got conservatives riled up was what he wrote in section 54: “Some people continue to defend trickle-down theories which assume that economic growth, encouraged by a free market, will inevitably succeed in bringing about greater justice and inclusiveness in the world. This opinion, which has never been confirmed by the facts, expresses a crude and naïve trust in the goodness of those wielding

economic power and in the sacralized workings of the prevailing economic system. Meanwhile, the excluded are still waiting.”

This was interpreted as an attack by the current pope on the “patron saint” of the Republican Party, President Ronald Reagan. However, U.S. Senator Hank Brown (R- Colorado) said on the senate floor in 1992, “The trickle-down theory attributed to the Republican Party has never been articulated by President Reagan and has never been articulated by President Bush and has never been advocated by either one of them. One might argue whether trickle down makes any sense or not. To attribute to people who have advocated the opposite in policies is not only inaccurate but poisons the debate on public issues.” In other words, although President Reagan may have been attacked by his critics for supposedly being in favor of “trickled-down” economics (and now some of his defenders believe any criticism of that economic approach is also an attack on him), according to Senator Brown, the president himself did not advocate for it.

The important thing for us Catholics, however, is not what economic theory a president embraced 30 years ago but spreading the Gospel, preaching the Good News to the poor (as Jesus pointed out to John the Baptist’s emissaries that he was doing). In his clarification to La Stampa Pope Francis said, “Marxist ideology is wrong, but I have met many Marxists in my life who are good people, so I don’t feel offended [at being branded one],” according to CNS’ translation of the interview.

CNS reported that radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh had decried “pure Marxism coming out of the mouth of the pope.” In response to such criticism, the pope told the Italian newspaper, “There is nothing in the exhortation that cannot be found in the social doctrine of the Church.” He also said that being against a “trickle-down” approach to economics “does not mean being a Marxist.”

In “Evangelii Gaudium” 187, the pope wrote, “Each individual Christian and every community is called to be an instrument of God for the liberation and promotion of the poor, and for enabling them to be fully a part of society. This demands that we be docile and attentive to the cry of the poor and to come to their aid.” A little later, at No. 191, he added, “In all places and circumstances, Christians, with the help of their pastors, are called to hear the cry of the poor. This has been eloquently stated by the bishops of Brazil: ‘We wish to take up daily the joys and hopes, the difficulties and sorrows of the Brazilian people, especially of those living in the barrios and the countryside — landless, homeless, lacking food and health care — to the detriment of their rights. Seeing their poverty, hearing their cries and knowing their sufferings, we are scandalized because we know that there is enough food for everyone and that hunger is the result of a poor distribution of goods and income. The problem is made worse by the generalized practice of wastefulness.’”

In the new year we will return to this theme, but as we celebrate Christmas, as we remember how there was “no room in the inn” for Jesus, Mary and Joseph, we ask God to open our hearts to seeing how we can grow in our active love for the poor, in our individual relationships and in our involvement in society.

Pope Francis’ weekly Angelus address and prayer

Dear brothers and sisters, hello!

Today is the third Sunday of Advent. It is called “Gaudete Sunday,” that is, the Sunday of joy. Often in the Liturgy [today] we hear an invitation to rejoice, to be happy. Why? Because the Lord is near. Christmas is near.

The Christian message is called “gospel,” that is, “glad tidings,” an announcement of joy for the whole people; the Church is not a refuge for sad people, the Church is a house of joy! And those who are sad find joy in her,

they find true joy in her.

But the joy of the Gospel is not just any joy. It is caused by our finding ourselves embraced and loved by God. As the prophet Isaiah (cf. 35:1-6a, 8a, 10) reminds us, God is He Who comes to save us, and give succor especially to the fearful of heart.

His coming among us strengthens, solidifies, encourages, lifts up and makes the desert and plain bloom, that is, our life when it becomes arid. And when does our life become arid? This happens when it lacks the water of OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER

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the Word of God and His Spirit of love. However great are our limits and our dismay, we are not permitted to be downhearted and vacillating in the face of our infirmities. On the contrary, we are invited to get a grip and straighten our weak knees, to have courage and not be afraid because our God always shows us the greatness of His mercy.

He gives us the strength to go forward. He is always with us to help us go forward. He is a God Who truly wants what is good for us, He loves us and so He is with us, to help us, to strengthen us and go forward. Take heart!

Always forward! Thanks to His help we can always start over.

How? How do we start over?

Someone might say to me: “No, Father, I have done a lot of ....

I am a great sinner. I cannot start over!” You’re wrong! You can start over! How? Because He waits for you, He is near you, He loves you, He is merciful, He forgives you, He gives you the strength to start over! He gives it to everyone!

Then we are able to open our eyes again, to overcome sadness and tears and sing a new song. And

this true joy remains in times of trial, too, even in suffering, because it is not a superficial joy but enters into the very depths of the person who entrusts himself to God and confides in Him. Christian joy, like hope, has its foundation in God’s fidelity, in the certainty that He always keeps His promises. The prophet Isaiah exhorts those who have lost their way and are in trouble to trust in the Lord’s fidelity because His Salvation will not delay in breaking into their life.

Those who have met Jesus along the way have experienced a joy that nothing and no one can take away. Jesus Christ is our joy!

His faithful love is inexhaustible!

Thus, when a Christian becomes sad, it means that he has distanced himself from Jesus. But we must not leave him to his own devices. We must pray for him, and make him feel the warmth of the community.

The Virgin Mary helps us hurry toward Bethlehem to meet the Child Who is born for us, for the Salvation and joy of all men.

To her the Angels says: “Rejoice, full of grace. The Lord is with

you” (Lk 1:28). She obtains for us the joy of the Gospel in the family, at work, in the parish and everywhere. It is an intimate joy, made of wonder and tenderness.

It is what a mother experiences when she looks at her newborn child, and feels that he is a gift of God, a miracle that she can only be grateful for!

The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary, and she conceived by work of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary ...

Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy Word.

Hail Mary ...

And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary ...

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray: Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.

December 20, 2013

I

n his apostolic exhortation “Evangelii Gaudium” (“The Joy of the Gospel”), Pope Francis said that to bring about the missionary transformation of the Church, there is a need to form and reform the messengers so that they may effectively announce and become the Gospel message.

As we prepare to celebrate the “Good News of great joy for all the people” that will be proclaimed to us in a few days, it’s worthwhile for us to ponder Pope Francis’ suggestion that each of us likewise is called to continue that work of the angels on Christmas morn.

“There is a kind of preaching,” Pope Francis writes in the exhortation, that is a “daily responsibility” for each of us, to bring the Gospel to those we meet, both neighbors and complete strangers. “Being a disciple means being constantly ready to bring the love of Jesus to others … on the street, in a city square, during work, on a journey.”

This is not a preaching “at” anyone, but much more an art of “spiritual accompaniment,” listening with an open heart, seeking to bring the person into a dialogue with us and with the saving word and work of God. The message that Pope Francis wants all of us to be able to echo and evince with integrity is a synthesis of the meaning of Christmas and Easter: “Jesus Christ loves you; He gave His life to save you;

“T

he family is the privileged setting where every person learns to give and receive love; an intermediate between individuals and society. The family is also a school which enables men and women to grow in the full measure of their humanity.” Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI no doubt had in mind the image of the Holy Family of Nazareth as the model of family that provides this “indispensable foundation for society.”

Yet the world is experiencing a social and spiritual crisis that has been an obstacle to the Church’s mission to evangelize. The leaders of the Catholic Church have been studying this crisis, talking about it and looking all over for someone or something to blame. Pope Francis has decided that it is time to do something about it.

In October of 2014 Pope Francis will convene an Extraordinary Synod of Bishops to discuss “The Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of Evangelization.”

The purpose of this synod is to address the challenges and concerns that face families today. Some of these concerns have not changed since the Holy Family scraped together a meager living on the dusty streets of Nazareth. Other challenges have a quintessentially 21st-century design. This is why

Anchor Columnists Preaching the Good News of great joy

and now He is living at your side fies, is not a form of entertainment every day to enlighten, strengthen or an opportunity for a preacher and free you.” When we credibly to share a weekly commentary witness to others the beauty and on the weekly news. Rather it joy of what it looks like to be loved is meant to open up a heart-toby God and to be accompanied heart dialogue between God and

by Him through all life’s ups and His people in which the preacher downs, we become evangelized proclaims God’s Word, love and evangelizers capable of attracting saving works, restates the demands others to enter into the same drama of the covenant, tackles some of the of redeeming love. struggles we might have in living That’s the general dayto-day preaching all of us are called to give.

Putting Into Pope Francis, however, doesn’t stop there. He the Deep knows that if the preaching of the Church as a whole

By Father is going to become more Roger J. Landry efficacious, there is much need for improvement in the most famous type of predication of all: the Liturgical that Word, and seeks to guide us homilies given by bishops, priests to the life-changing help provided and deacons. in the Sacraments. It’s directed to There have been so many far more than a communication of concerns expressed about this type truth, but to an exchange of persons of preaching that Francis says this through the medium of words and subject can’t be ignored. And so, in in the Word-made-Flesh. order to “renew our confidence in Francis says it’s important not preaching,” he gives us the most just to know what to say but how “meticulous” primer on preaching to say it. The pope encourages all in papal history. preachers to be joyful, positive, The many practical points he warm, welcoming, familiar, practigives are obviously relevant to cal, unpretentious, and organized. clergy ordained to preach, but they He says they should stress not also contain many tips for everyone what we shouldn’t do as much as who is called to be a credible meswhat we can be done better. Rather senger of the faith. than dour judges and experts in The homily, Pope Francis claridire predictions, preachers should

be guardians of goodness and the beauty of a life of faithful love in accordance with God’s wisdom.

Bishops, priests and deacons ought to devote a lot of time in the preparation of homilies, Pope Francis adds, giving it priority over other important tasks. Those who “wing it” because they’re too busy with other activities, he says, are “dishonest and irresponsible with gifts of God he has received.” True love of neighbor, he says, is shown in refusing to offer a product of poor quality.

Time is necessary for the preacher to study and contemplate the Word of God to such a degree that it resonates in his heart before he shares it with others. Unless the Word has truly touched his life through prayerful assimilation, Pope Francis maintains, he will be “a false prophet, a fraud, a shallow imposter.”

The preacher also needs adequate time also to contemplate his people, what their needs, feelings, habits, aspirations, limitations, struggles, and worldviews are with respect to the Word of God, so that he can be an instrument to join their hearts to the Lord’s.

Francis advises preachers to be brief lest the homily take on exaggerated importance in comparison with the Liturgy of the Eucharist or devolve into a speech or lecture.

He doesn’t define what he means by

9 “brief,” but if he practices what he himself recommends, he’s probably thinking about 15 minutes, which is the average length of his homilies on Sundays and solemnities.

He urges preachers to imitate the way mothers evangelize their children, teaching lovingly what is for their benefit, listening to their concerns, speaking clearly and simply in a language they understand, and correcting when necessary with patience and tenderness.

The fact that he learned the faith primarily from his grandmother obviously influences this metaphor.

If the inspirational heroes in his life had been male coaches or spiritual fathers, he likely would have accentuated the necessary paternal side to preaching, challenging sons and daughters courageously to strive beyond their comfort zones. We see the paternal and maternal sides in Jesus’ preaching.

Ultimately Francis hopes that, just as Jesus had a great joy in communicating the faith to those He loved, so each preacher will be filled with that same enjoyment and enthusiasm, communicating every word as a gift before it is a demand, as Good News rather than bad news, as the path to life and fulfillment and liberation from death.

Anchor columnist Father Roger J. Landry is pastor of St. Bernadette’s Parish in Fall River. fatherlandry@ catholicpreaching.com.

The critical importance of family the secretary of the Bishops Synod and education of their children? has asked the bishops of the world The rest of the question asks if the to gather information about the teaching on the family is known, challenges facing families today so accepted, rejected, or ridiculed. that a preparatory document can The questions that follow flow be prepared. from the first, and target some of A series of questions were sent the issues that challenge Catholic out to pastors, catechetical leaders and pastoral council members in the Diocese of Fall River so that Bishop George W. Coleman can give his input to the Synod Preparatory Document.

By Claire McManus The questions that were sent gained some attention in secular media sources, which presented them as teachings on Marriage. For examif they were a referendum on gay ple, does society understand that marriage, divorce and contracepthese teachings have their basis tion. The questions actually test in natural law? Recognizing that our knowledge of Church teaching in many western societies there is about family, and ask why and how an acceptance of same-sex unions, these teachings are challenging to there are questions about how the the faithful, and being challenged Catholic Church can stand firm by those outside of the Church. in its teaching and also love and The heart of the first question welcome people in this situation. is whether we have done a good There are also questions about job of teaching that the stable forming families, specifically, are union between man and woman in Married couples open to havMarriage is a sign of the presence ing children? This is a particular of God’s love. Have we taught concern in the European counthat Marriage is a covenant which tries where the birth rate has establishes a partnership for life dropped considerably in the last and is designed for the good of decades. The synod questions if the spouses and the procreation people understand the teachings of

The Great Commission

“Humanae Vitae,” Pope Paul VI’s 1968 encyclical that affirmed the importance of conjugal love and responsible parenthood. The synod wants to know if these teachings are accepted, and if so, do they cause difficulty for couples?

Many people are fully aware of the Church’s teaching that Marriage is meant to be forever, but for a variety of reasons, the relationship falls apart.

The Synod of Bishops would like to discuss how the Church can recognize the pain that this dissolution of the Marriage causes, particularly since many of these couples have suffered from being cut off from the Eucharist.

As one responder put it, “I can be forgiven for every other sin I’ve committed except for the mistake I made at the altar.” The question was asked, “How is God’s mercy proclaimed to separated and divorced and remarried people, and how does the Church put into practice her support for them in their journey of faith?”

On a practical level, it also asked, “Could a simplification of the annulment process contribute to solving the problems of the people involved?”

Families that are following the

Church’s teaching to raise their children in the faith come in many shapes and sizes, and it is our mission to support them in this effort.

Several of the questions ask the pastors how they respond to families that are in irregular Marriages yet bring their children to the parish for Formation and Sacramental preparation.

The final question summarizes the entire reason for this inquiry: “What critical situations in the family today can obstruct a person’s encounter with Christ?” This is an acknowledgement that God is present in every family, no matter where they are on their journey of faith. As one of our priests stated, “‘Holy’ is an appellation which can be applied to the myriad of possible configurations recognized today — single-parent families, blended families, families separated by work, war or other circumstances, families suffering from the death of significant members, families where grandparents provide significant care giving.” They are probably all sitting out in the church this Christmas, the feast that gathers holy families together.

Let them know that their Church is ready to listen.

Anchor columnist Claire McManus is the director of the Diocesan Office of Faith Formation.

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December 20, 2013

W

hether we realize it or not, God frequently places signposts along our pathway in life.

I can vividly recall several experiences in my life when I felt that God was pointing me in a certain direction. When I felt periods of doubt and anxiety along my spiritual journey, God seemingly presented me with a person or experience that shifted my heart in a positive way towards Him. We can and should ask God for signs, especially when God indicates He wants us to do so, as we see in this week’s first reading from Isaiah when the Lord tells Ahaz to “Ask for a sign from the Lord, your God.” Oftentimes the signs we receive from God are quite subtle, and can take the form of a chance encounter with a stranger, a comment from a friend, an experi-

Sharing our ‘detour’ experiences

ence that touches our soul, more likely to observe and or a slight change in our respond to the signals from perspective or in our heart.

God. At other times God’s ways On some occasions, we are not so subtle; in fact, may either miss the signs they can be so powerful that God is trying to show as to effect real change or us or we simply choose to even conversion in our lives. ignore or even defy them.

This week’s Gospel reading describes a Homily of the Week powerful sign from God: an angel apFourth Sunday pearing to Joseph in of Advent a dream and telling him that Mary’s

By Deacon conception was Michael Zonghetti achieved through the Holy Spirit.

Whether the signs are subtle or powerOnce we start heading ful, it is critical that we down this path, God will remain open to see and continue to give us signals receive these messages. to guide us back toward Frequent prayer and mediHim. To use the analogy of tation can assist us, and if a GPS system, if we take we approach each day with some errant turns God a willingness to be present constantly recalculates the to every personal encounter correct route to our destiand experience, we will be nation: Him. There may be

times in our lives when we are frequently taking wrong turns. Sometimes we may become so estranged from God and our lives become so unmanageable that we are given the gift of desperation, which may take the form of a powerful sign from God that we need to make dramatic changes in our lives to realize a conversion toward Him. I have experienced wayward periods in my life in which God intervened by providing me with powerful signs, the gift of desperation, and the “grace of apostleship” that St. Paul discusses in this week’s second reading. We might view those periods in our lives when we have strayed from God as wasted time. On the contrary,

these episodes can serve a very powerful and positive purpose: helping others. By sharing our “detour” experiences, the signs we received, and our path back to God with others who may have similarly taken wrong turns, we may be able to provide comfort and help to them as they struggle to redirect themselves toward God. The grace of apostleship that we receive from God is described further by Paul when he tells us that this grace will lead to an “obedience of faith.” Just as Joseph did what the angel told him in his dream, we should also strive for this obedience of faith. God will provide us with the grace we need to see, discern, and obey His signs that will invariably lead us closer to Him. Deacon Zonghetti serves at St. Mary’s Parish in Norton.

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. Dec. 21, Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a; Lk 1:39-45. Sun. Dec. 22, Fourth Sunday of Advent, Is 7:10-14; Ps 24:1-3,4ab,5-6; Rom 1:1-7; Mt 1:18-24. Mon. Dec. 23, Mal 3:1-4,23-24; Lk 1:57-66. Tues. Dec. 24, 2 Sm 7:1-5,8b-12,14a,16; Lk 1:67-79. Wed. Dec. 25, The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) Vigil: Is 62:15; Ps 89:4-5,16-17,27,29; Acts 13:16-17,22-25; Mt 1:1-25 or 1:18-25; Night: Is 9:1-6; Ps 96:1-3,11-13; Ti 2:11-14; Lk 2:1-14; Dawn: Is 62:11-12; Ps 97:1,6,11-12; Ti 3:4-7; Lk 2:15-20; Day : Is 52:7-10; Ps 98:1-6; Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18 or 1:1-5,9-14. Thurs. Dec. 26, Acts 6:8-10;7:54-59; Mt 10:17-22. Fri. Dec. 20, 1 Jn 1:1-4; Jn 20:1a,2-8. Sat. Dec. 28, 1 Jn 1:5—2:2; Mt 2:13-18. Sun. Dec. 29, The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Sir 3:2-7,12-14; Ps 128:1-5; Col 3:12-21 or 3:12-17; Mt 2:13-15,19-23. Mon. Dec. 30, 1 Jn 2:12-17; Lk 2:36-40. Tues. Dec. 31, 1 Jn 2:18-21; Jn 1:1-18. Wed. Jan. 1, Mary, the Holy Mother of God, Nm 6:22-27; Ps 67:2-3,5-6,8; Gal 4:4-7; Lk 2:16-21. Thurs. Jan. 2, 1 Jn 2:22-28; Ps 98:1-4; Jn 1:19-28. Fri. Jan. 3, 1 Jn 2:29—3:6; Ps 98:1,3-6; Jn 1:29-34. Sat. Jan. 4, 1 Jn 3:7-10; Ps 98:1,7-9; Jn 1:35-42. Vigil of the Epiphany of the Lord, Is 60:1-6; Ps 72:2,7-8,10-13; Eph 3:2-3a,5-6; Mt 2:1-12. Sun. Jan. 5, Epiphany of the Lord, Is 60:1-6; Ps 72:1-2,7-8,10-13; Eph 3:2-3a,5-6; Mt 2:1-12. Mon. Jan. 6, 1 Jn 3:22—4:6; Ps 2:78,10-12a; Mt 4:12-17,23-25. Tues. Jan. 7, 1 Jn 4:7-10; Ps 72:1-4,7-8; Mk 6:34-44. Wed. Jan. 8, 1 Jn 4:11-18; Ps 72:1-2,10,12-13; Mk 6:45-52. Thurs. Jan. 9, 1 Jn 4:19—5:4; Ps 72:1-2,14,15bc,17; Lk 4:14-22a. Fri. Jan. 10, 1 Jn 5:5-13; Ps 147:12-15, 19-20; Lk 5:12-16.

A

Figures may be stolen but true inspiration can never be taken

s I reflect and write this homily for the feast of the Holy Family it is mid-December.

In recent news there was a theft in Quincy involving an outdoor Nativity display. It is not unusual for the Christ Child to be taken from a crèche but this time Mary and Joseph were also abducted! Many people were upset and wondered who would steal the Holy Family figures? What I question is, can the inspiration and the beauty of this special family be taken from us? Can their personal sacrifices and their ability to overcome tremendous adversity fail to inspire and encourage us?

Recently a family enjoying an outing in the mountains of Nevada had an accident which overturned their vehicle. With no cell phone service the couple and four children stayed with their Jeep and burned

whatever they could find home one day. We certainly to stay warm in the subpray that these families will zero conditions. Luckily somehow know the same they had water and some love and care that guided food and heated rocks that and sustained Mary, Joseph were then brought into and the Child Jesus. We their upside down home for also pray that our faith is extra warmth. The search put into action by doing and rescue team and others waiting Homily of the Week for news about the family were overThe Holy Family of joyed that they were Jesus, Mary and Joseph found safe. Perhaps this family received

By Father some strength and Richard M. Roy encouragement during their Advent ordeal by thinking of the Holy Family welwhatever we can to ascoming the Christ Child sist families in need and and struggling to survive in helping them to find safe, that drafty animal shelter affordable housing. in Bethlehem!

The Gospel this weekend Perhaps families who are is from Matthew 2:13-15, in temporary shelters or 19-23. The new family had run-down motels or stayto flee to Egypt as refuing with relatives can take gees because Jesus’ life was courage in the hope that in danger due to Herod, they, like the Holy Family, in much the same way as will persevere and find a refugees from war-torn

countries are now entering many western countries.

The Holy Family stands by these families anxious about their children, worrying about their welfare.

They walk with immigrants and refugees separated from those they love.

They are with those who seek a better life in our country but are often dismissed because they are unwanted, unwelcomed and a burden.

This homily is also being composed a few days before a significant but sad anniversary. December 14 marked the first anniversary of the tragic shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. The shock and the grief of the parents and families who lost children and loved ones is impossible to describe even a year later. Mary, the

mother of our Holy Family, knew about loss and was a witness to her own Son’s passion and death. The pain of losing a child is an indescribable ache of the heart and the Holy Family weeps with the parents of Newtown and all parents who have buried children.

Each year the Christmas season gives us the opportunity to be grateful for the love of God made manifest in Jesus. It also is a time to know how blessed we are to be in relationship with each other as the larger Family of God. May the Holy Family help us to know that we are never alone.

May we be uplifted by their example and persevere together in love and compassion. May we all find greater peace and purpose in our own families, in our own lives.

Father Roy is pastor of St. Julie Billiart Parish in North Dartmouth.

Anchor Columnists We are the reason for the season

December 20, 2013

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e have survived “Black Friday” and “Cyber Monday.” All the stories in the media these days have to do with shopping and buying. We are pushed into a “retail therapy” mentality. Shopping and purchasing things will make us and others happy. While that can be true, it is not an end in itself.

Our local newspaper took pride in the fact that there were more than 41 inserts delivered with the Thanksgiving newspaper. Many sales, many possibilities, much money to be made and spent seem to be the mantra of these days before Christmas.

As you read this, we are completing the third week of Advent in the Church’s calendar year. In this year of Grace, the Liturgical year began with the first Sunday of Advent. As we have a calendar year and a fiscal year, etc., the Church has a year in which she celebrates the mysteries of the life of Christ. It enables us to participate annually in the celebration of these various events.

Advent is one of the least celebrated seasons in the Church.

While parishes celebrate it with an Advent Wreath, ceremonies, and Penance services in preparation for Christmas, most of

the world is already celebrating Christmas. Christmas music began to play on the radio stations weeks before the traditional start on Thanksgiving Day. This will all end on Christmas Day. Throughout the Advent and Christmas seasons, we will occasionally see an item, a pin or a card, with the words “Jesus is the reason for the season.” This is a reminder as to why we celebrate Christmas. It is not only about gifts and parties, decorations and cards. It is about Jesus’ birth.

Yet it might be good to consider that perhaps we should change a word of that saying that states: “We are the reason for the season.” Indeed we are.

Our first parents sinned against God, as we are told in the book of Genesis. For centuries, God prepared a people amongst whom the Savior would be born. The Savior would come among us and would be the God-man, Emmanuel, and God with us. The Canticle of Zechariah reminds us: “Blessed be the Lord, God of Israel; He has come to His

people and set them free.”

The meaning and gift of Christmas is the gift of God’s Son to save us, redeem us and restore us to the unity which our first parents destroyed by original sin. So we are the reason for the season.

Our response to the gift of God is to exchange gifts in honor of the great Gift we received.

Our response is to celebrate and decorate in honor of the great occasion of the love of God among us. Our response is to be with families and friends in celebration, partying in celebration of the birth of the Savior.

One of the nicest ads I have seen these days is the one created for West Jet, a Canadian airline. As people received their boarding passes, they could go to a box in which Santa sat. He was dressed in blue so as not to confuse him with the real Santa.

As people checked their tickets with the Santa, they were called by name and asked what they wanted for Christmas.

Many responses were given from the young and the old. Everyone mentioned the gift they wanted, from an iPad, a return ticket home, a large TV, a skateboard and even underwear.

Unbeknownst to the passengers, a team of people were stationed at the point of arrival of the airplane. They were divided into teams and were charged to get the gifts that were desired. They spread out to different stores, purchased the gifts and wrapped them.

When the plane arrived at its destination, the passengers were directed to the carousel to obtain their baggage. When the buzzer sounded, the conveyer belt sent down a stream of holiday-wrapped packages with the name of each of the passengers. They had all received what they wanted, including the underwear and the large TV. The joy expressed on their faces is unforgettable.

What is moving about the

11 ad is the unity of people working together to make something happen. I think part of the celebration of Christmas is the unity it can bring us with one another and with God. Imagine if there was unity in our families, parishes, dioceses, our Church and even our government, so much more could be done. We would each begin to recognize the presence of God in ourselves and in each other. This is the presence we must seek.

Pope Benedict wrote that Advent means “a presence begun, the presence of God.” To celebrate Advent means to bring to life within ourselves “the hidden presence of God.” To celebrate Christmas is to live that presence.

Be assured of my prayers for you at Christmas that you will find Christ in your life and that He will gently lead you to look on Him Who loves you and is present to you. For you are the reason for the season. And I will pray that you will have a holy, happy and healthy New Year.

Anchor columnist Msgr.

Oliveira is pastor of St. Mary’s Parish in New Bedford and director of the diocesan Propagation of the Faith Office.

How to celebrate the Twelve Days of Christmas 20 December 2013 — Homeport, Falmouth Harbor — Premiere of “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946) es, indeed, it’s a wonderful life. And what could be more wonderful at this time of year than keeping the Twelve Days of Christmas in a very traditional manner. You, too, dear readers, may wish to participate in these ancient traditions. All are authentic folk customs. I am not making this up.

The Twelve Days of Christmas traditionally extend from Christmas Day (sometimes Christmas Eve) until the feast of the Epiphany. Here is some marginally useful information which may (or may not) serve you well this week should you encounter a lull in the conversation at a Christmas party. The guests will be impressed by your knowledge of tradition.

With the dawning of St. Stephen’s Day (December 26), dear readers, we will have several traditions available to us. I can, for example, raid a neighboring rectory. Today you are entitled to pillage the priest’s pantry. My neighbor to the north, Father Arnie Medeiros, advised me to avoid St. Elizabeth Seton

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rectory since his cupboards are always bare. You will probably find most rectories these days have under-stocked refrigerators and empty pantries. Although Fathers Gerald Hebert and Frank Moy at St. Anthony’s rectory, my neighbors to the east, always keep a wellstocked larder (Father Hebert cooks) I decided instead to go “hunting the wren.” Once I find a wren, I’ll dress up in a bizarre costume of my own design and lug the songbird around to the homes of friends and neighbors, all the while singing and begging for treats. You, however, may decide it would be safer to stay home on this day. Remember it is also traditionally Boxing Day. Employees who were required to work on Christmas Day have this day off. All the people who provided you with various services throughout the year will come banging on your door, rattling their donation boxes and looking for a substantial tip. It is unwise to short-change your hairdresser or barber.

December 27 is the feast of St. John. I plan to bake those

traditional small loaves of bread.

These prevent you from being poisoned by your enemies. St. John (who once escaped poisoning) will safeguard me. You just never know when this sort of thing will come in handy, not that I have any enemies, you

understand.

Then it will be on to December 28 — “Childrermas” or feast of the Holy Innocents. Being celibate, I’m excused from the customary observances. But if you are fortunate enough to be a parent, get up early and sneak into the bedrooms of your sleeping children. Whack them with a switch before they realize what’s happening. It is tradition of course. Oh, wait. You may be reported to the authorities.

Some old customs don’t translate well into modern times. I considered waking Father Peter

John in this manner, but quickly changed my mind.

On December 29 I’ll take the day off and prepare to go “hodening.” First, I’ll find myself a horse’s skull. Then I’ll attach a rope so that I can open and shut the jaw. On December 30, bedecked with bells, I’ll go around with the skull, terrorizing my neighbors. I can hardly wait.

I’ll ring their doorbells, singing loudly for free food and drink, keeping in mind I must speak only in rhyme. If your neighbor is able to compose rhymes faster than you, you lose. I find it best to avoid homes of young rap music enthusiasts.

On December 31, I’ll be well-prepared for those children wearing white sheets knocking on my door and singing “Hogmanay, troll ollay! Gie’s o’your white bread and nane o’your grey” (“Give us of your white bread and none of your grey”). I’ll just give those little beggars a slice of bread and be done with it. It’s traditional.

Then in comes New Year’s Eve. Expect visitors. No, really, expect visitors. The first person

through your door on New Year’s Day determines your luck for the entire year. If the “first footer” is a flat-footed, darkhaired man carrying coins, coal, iron, food, and a bottle of whiskey — you are already a winner.

If the first-footer is a little redhaired girl carrying none of the above, you are doomed. Perhaps you could arrange to take the entire year off.

Following New Year’s Day comes “Plough Monday,” even though it falls on a Saturday.

Go figure. Back to work all men must go. The following day will be “Distaff Day” when women return to their chores. Women never get much accomplished on Distaff Day, since this is the day men have permission to sneak up on them and douse them with buckets of cold water.

Come to think of it, men don’t get much accomplished on Distaff Day either.

Seems I’ve inexplicably lost my enthusiasm for the traditional Twelve Days of Christmas. I find myself longing for Lent.

Anchor columnist Father Tim Goldrick is pastor of St. Patrick’s Parish in Falmouth. frxmas@aol. com.

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December 20, 2013

The ninth-grade Confirmation class students in the Holy Trinity Parish Religious Education program in West Harwich were team leaders, and 10 teams of youngsters recently went out with students and parents door-to-door, Christmas caroling and handing out Christmas gift bags to low-income seniors who live there. One woman was driving away and forgot they were coming, turned around and drove back to her apartment so as not to miss the kids. “I look forward to it all year,” she said. Another woman was taking her morning walk and said it was the best morning because she was serenaded the entire length of her walk and by all 10 teams and loved it, singing right along with the kids.

The groups delivered 97 gift bags and everyone had a wonderful time. (Above right) even a resident’s dog came out to greet the kids as they sang to June Bassett. (Photos by Barbara-Anne Foley)

Entries sought for Family Rosary’s ‘Try Prayer it Works’ contest

EASTON, — The call for entries has been announced for the 2014 “Try Prayer! It Works!” contest. In this national competition sponsored by Family Rosary, children are encouraged express their faith through art, poetry and prose.

The “Try Prayer! It Works!” contest is open to students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

The national competition attracts more than 1,000 entries from approximately 22,000 participants nationwide. Children and teens from Catholic schools, parishes, home schooling, and other Catholic organizations use their talent to convey their beliefs.

This year’s theme — “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief ” — is based on the fourth Joyful Mystery.

“We all struggle with faith at times,” said Father John Phalen, CSC, president of Holy Cross Family Ministries. “Helping children understand how to keep their faith during troubling times and what to do to maintain their beliefs and remain committed to Christ, is a critical learning for them, for all of us.”

The “Try Prayer! It Works!” contest asks entrants to use creativity to depict their faith. Children in grades K-12 enrolled in a Catholic school, Religious Education program, parish, home school or other organization are eligible to participate.

For details or to download an application, go to www.

FamilyRosary.org/TryPrayer.

All entries must be postmarked by Feb. 1, 2014. Questions? Call Holy Cross Family Ministries at 800299-PRAY (7729).

December 20, 2013

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Dear Anchor friends, please note that The Anchor will not publish on December 27 and Jan. 3, 2014. The paper will return to your mailboxes with the Jan. 10, 2014 edition.

Father Gerard A. Hebert, center, pastor of St. Anthony’s Parish in East Falmouth, received help from Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus at the parish’s recent annual toy drive.

14 “Who is she that comes forth like the dawn, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in battle array?” (Song of Solomon 6:10). oes that Scripture really refer to the sweet mother in our crèche?

The adoring mother, demurely gazing at the Babe, surrounded by inquisitive shepherds and under the watchful eye of silent Joseph? What are we missing?

We need not choose between seeing Mary as a docile maiden or the most formidable enemy of the ravager of souls; rather,

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Anchor Columnist we must recognize that the very docility that allows Mary to focus on her Lord is also the virtue that allowed her to be filled with God’s own strength — and which would one day reveal her to be Virgin Most Powerful and Tower of Ivory.

As silent as Mary seems to be in Holy Scripture, there is just enough information to assemble a heart-warming catechesis on authentic discipleship and the strength of God’s own

The wise virgin familial bonds. Mary, of course, was not only the Mother of God but His most perfect disciple. This is what Our Lord

meant when He asked, “Who are My mother and [My] brothers? Whoever does the

December 20, 2013

will of God is My brother and sister and mother” (Mk 3: 33, 35). Mary’s “yes” initially sealed her vocation as disciple, and only within that calling was she mother — but it stands to reason that these two dimensions are inseparable.

How do we really know what transpired? The remarkable account of the Annunciation had to have been told

by Mary after Jesus’ resurrection.

She must have been asked by those around her, whereupon the whole saga spilled out: the recollected quiet, the celestial visitor, the exchange, and the Incarnation around which Salvation history revolves.

I confess I was always confused about why her question (“How can this be?”) was considered appropriate and Zechariah’s (“How shall I know this?”) was considered impertinent. The answer she received amplified our understanding of God’s plan; his answer was to be struck dumb. The way to look at this encounter, I’ve learned in the writings of Jacob of Serug, is not to compare Mary with her cousin, but to compare Mary with Eve. When Eve was approached by an angel, she asked no questions. Alas, she simply took him at face value and acted on his suggestion. Mary, who had to know about the previous ruinous encounter, exercised prudence before accepting the

message.

Not only did Mary’s prudence spare her from a possibly disastrous choice, but the answer she elicited from the angel has since been foundational to our faith. She pondered the message in her heart, kept the information in her mind over the coming decades, and meditated on how those events related to the promises of God. When the time was right, she shared what was appropriate with the Apostles. What we know of the Christmas story, no doubt, came to life through the quiet words of Our Lady as she told the story of God stooping to earth, entrusting Himself to her care and that of her betrothed — who had shared with her his own dreams so long ago.

As with any family, the stories spread and were treasured, not only providing details about the human dimension of the Godman, but providing essential details about the Trinity, the Incarnation, and our redemption.

In that regard, we discover that that quiet maiden was not only the perfect vessel for the Holy One of Israel, but that she reigns with Him now and will use her motherly influence to bring all her children home. That is the wonder of that sweet mother in the crèche who remains the refuge of sinners. Virgin most prudent, pray for us!

Anchor columnist Mrs. Kineke is the author of “The Authentic Catholic Woman.” She blogs at feminine-genius.typepad.com.

Correction: Father Pat is performing concerts on Saturdays from 3-7 p.m. at La Salette Shrine ATTLEBORO — It was incorrectly reported in the December 6 Anchor story on Father André Patenaude that he is not performing concerts on Saturdays at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette during the annual Festival of Lights that runs through Jan. 5, 2014.

In fact, Father Pat is indeed playing Saturday concerts from 3 to 7 p.m. at the shrine church.

December 20, 2013

Christmas Mass to be broadcast on WLNE Channel 6

Anchor Columnist When popes are saints

FALL RIVER — The Mass for Christmas will be broadcast on WLNE-TV, Channel 6, on Christmas Day at noon. Bishop George W. Coleman of the Fall River Diocese will be the principal celebrant and homilist for the one-hour televised Liturgy, which is sponsored by the Diocesan Television Mass Apostolate.

The Portuguese Channel will air Christmas Mass in Portuguese at 7:30 p.m. on Christmas night. Father Gastão Oliveira, pastor of Santo Christo Parish in Fall River, will be the celebrant and homilist. The Portuguese Channel is carried on most cable television systems in the area.

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Sunday, December 22, 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father John M. Murray, pastor of St. Ann’s Parish in Raynham

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Sunday, December 29, 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father Kevin A. Cook, pastor of Holy Family Parish in East Taunton

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Sunday, January 5, 2014, 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father Roger J. Landry, pastor of St. Bernadette’s Parish in Fall River

T

ime magazine anhonorifics we apply to popes nounced last week that is “Your Holiness,” a bit the Pope Francis is its Person of way we refer to a bishop as the Year for 2013. Two popes “Your Excellency” or a judge as have preceded him in this “Your Honor,” or even “Jushonor, Pope John XXIII in tice.” The truth is, however, 1962 and Pope John Paul II in that not every pope is holiness 1994, both well into their repersonified, nor every bishop spective papacies. And, it turns excellent, nor every judge out, both those popes will be always honorable, or even just, canonized by Pope Francis this let alone justice personified. coming year, on April 27.

But we honor the office rather Of course, being Person of the Year is not necessarily a measure of holiness. After all, Hitler and Stalin were also, in their day, Time’s Person (in those

By Dwight Duncan days Man) of the Year.

It is more a measure of celebrity status, or newsworthiness, which is than necessarily the person oftentimes due to people’s acwho occupies the office, with tions whether good or bad. such honorifics. They are at the Blessed Cardinal Newvery least a reminder what the man, for example, noted in the job should be about, even if, middle of the 19th century alas, the person in question is that “Notoriety, or the making not always up to the daunting of a noise in the world — it task. may be called ‘newspaper fame’ We have been, in a sense, — has come to be considered spoiled when it comes to a great good in itself, and a popes. Every pope of my lifeground of veneration.” This time, starting with Pope Pius was in a discourse he gave XII, has either been certifiably entitled, “Saintliness the Stan- holy (Blessed John XXIII and dard of Christian Principle,” Blessed John Paul II) or has a thereby indicating where true process of canonization well Christian greatness is found under way, if he is deceased.

— in holiness or sanctity, not And so the causes of beatiin celebrity, nor in power, fication for Pope Pius, Pope wealth, or sexiness, all idols of Paul VI, and Pope John Paul the day.

I are all well-advanced. And Of course, one of the Pope Benedict XVI and Pope

Judge For Yourself

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Francis, though still alive, are by all accounts exemplary in their lives.

This of course does not mean that all of them were perfect in every way, never making a mistake. Papal infallibility does not mean that.

One thinks, for example, of the controversy concerning the Venerable Pius XII’s alleged silence during the Holocaust, or Blessed John Paul II’s arguably defective handling of the problem of priestly sexual abuse (hindsight is, of course, 20-20).

But it does mean that they were models of authentic Christian life, practicing what they preached, and dedicated body and soul to the good of the Church as a whole.

This is in contrast with other periods of Church history, when the occupants of the See of Peter sometimes led personally scandalous lives, concerned more about their personal or family fortunes than the good of the Church as a whole. The 16th and 17th centuries had many such popes, some of whom were able to make significant contributions in spite of their personal failings. Paul III, for example, summoned the Council of Trent and approved the Jesuits. And, of course, we Catholics believe that the Church’s faith will persist, as it is guaranteed by the abiding presence of Christ and the Holy Spirit. Even the bad popes and bishops and priests have not been able to destroy it.

Jesus is holiness personified, the Church His Body is holy, and the saints are holy, the Sacraments are holy, the Word of God is holy. How wonderful it is that two of our recent popes are going to be declared truly and officially holy, and that Pope Francis, who has struck the world with his strikingly authentic Christian witness in the few months we have had him as pope, seems well on his way to holiness himself. As we sing in “When the Saints Go Marchin’ In,” “Oh, I want, to be in that number.”

Anchor columnist Dwight Duncan is a professor at UMass School of Law Dartmouth. He holds degrees in civil and canon law.

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December 20, 2013

Fairhaven parish Youth Ministry initiates ‘Peace Pole’ project

By Margie Copeland Special to The Anchor

FAIRHAVEN — Peace seems so unusual throughout the world today. Every day of every week, we hear about a conflict where bad governments or greedy leaders are hurting their own people. Drug lords rule a country and send their poison to other countries. Poverty and epidemics are finding homes in too many places where there is little or no government.

There are so many of us growing tired of the pain and sorrow all this causes. What can we do?

Or as we often say to ourselves: “What can one person do?” We

are called as disciples of Christ to bring about the Lord’s Kingdom which is love and peace. It is time to do something about bringing love and peace to our world.

In October, those involved with Youth Ministry at St. Joseph’s Parish in Fairhaven felt the call to act, to bring attention to others about doing something to bring about world peace. We announced at our annual Thanksgiving Mass that we have decided, with the pastor’s blessings, to begin a Peace Pole project which will bring the parish community and the community at large together in praying

The pictures represent a Thanksgiving presented at the St. Joseph’s Parish annual Thanksgiving Mass. Even though thanks were said for the gift of life, the gift of food, the gift of family, and the gift of religious freedom, the letters of the word “peace” were dropped and the candle turned off to represent an empty chair because these gifts have been ignored; peace is broken and an emptiness is left behind.

for peace.

For the next six months, we will be inviting people to gather as ministries, as a parish family, as individuals to actively pray for peace. We will have special times for Eucharistic Adoration, Masses, evenings of reflection, and other opportunities to come together as a family to pray for peace in our world.

To solidify our commitment to praying for peace, the Youth Ministry has organized the planting of a Peace Pole on the parish grounds dedicated to all those praying for peace and our military who fight for peace.

Sometime in mid- to late-May we will gather outside and share in a permanent symbol of our willingness to bring about world peace. The young people are the ones to live in the future world and it is our desire to leave a lasting impression on this parish community, local community and hopefully the world that peace must come so all can live in a loving and caring world.

So from now until May, we will keep everyone informed about the Peace Pole project. A peace prayer by Pope Francis has been placed in the parish Missals so we can say the prayer at each Mass celebrated. We encourage you to pray it daily and pass it onto others to pray. We urge the entire diocese to pray this prayer and pray daily for peace. As we pray together as a community and a diocese for peace on earth and for there to be more love in the world. We can make a difference! Prayer can change people’s hearts!

Prayer for Peace Written by Pope Francis O God of hope and Father of mercy, Your Holy Spirit inspires us to look beyond ourselves and our own needs. Inspire leaders to choose peace over violence and to seek reconciliation with enemies. Convert the hearts of those who have taken up arms, and strengthen the resolve of those committed to peace. Inspire the Church around the world with

compassion for her people, and fill us with hope for a future of peace built on justice for all.

We ask this through Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace and Light of the World, Who lives and reigns

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forever and ever.

Amen.

[These are excerpts from a prayer from September 7 when the pope asked us to pray for Syria.]

Good old St. Joseph

erhaps my favorite image But I had the advantage of at Christmas time is that living through those moments of our Blessed Mother with the in the 20th century — where a Christ Child swaddled lovingly hospital filled with competent in her arms. doctors and nurses was just a The cover of this week’s Anchor 10-minute ride away. My responis a prime example. There are sibilities were to remember to very few interpretations that I’ve keep the car fueled and not forget seen over my five-plus decades of how to get to the hospital in my existence that I haven’t liked. moments of panic.

As with music, my taste in For Joseph, it had to be quite artwork is an eclectic one. I like different. No hospitals, no doctraditional, contemporary, and abstract. As long as it comes from the heart by way of the soul, it’s beautiBy Dave Jolivet ful. Anything from medieval to icons to the “Madonna of the Streets” tors, no nurses, not even a place (that’s carved into my son Dave’s to stay. Was he trained to deliver gravestone) are awe-inspiring a child, or was he shunned so to me and are all precursors to much by his society because he Michelangelo’s poignant, bitterwas a dad out of wedlock that he sweet Pieta, depicting our mother was on his own? holding the lifeless Body of her And once the Child was born, Son and our Brother Jesus — the how nerve-racking was it to reason for the mother and Christ think about keeping the Son of Child scene in the first place.

God and His mother safe, fed, I don’t know if we can count and sheltered? how many interpretations of I’ve always loved St. Joseph. mother and Son are out there, In fact my son Dave’s middle but it does make one wonder name is Joseph in his honor (well at least me, and that’s one) (Emilie’s middle name is in where is Joseph?

Mary’s honor).

As a dad, I can guess that he To all you dads (and grandwas, at those tender moments, dads) out there, the next time you somewhere sitting down, leaning gaze on an image of Mary and against a rock, a stable, a lamb, Baby Jesus, remember good old a cow, anything that could give St. Joseph and the responsibilities him a moment’s rest from what he bore with grace and dignity he just witnessed and worrying — and ask for his intercession about what lay ahead. to emulate his faith, courage and I had the great blessing of love of family. being present at the birth of my I wish all the merriest of four children, and those moChristmases. ments will always remain some Anchor columnist Dave of the most moving moments of Jolivet can be reached at my life. davejolivet@anchornews.org.

My View From the Stands

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December 20, 2013

2013’s disasters: Some acts of God, some man-made, some a bit of both?

WASHINGTON (CNS) — It seemed like 2013 spawned a near-continuous spate of disasters and calamities in the United States and around the world.

Sometimes a disaster struck one area, then roared back to wreak even more damage.

A case in point: On May 20, the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore bore the brunt of an EF5 tornado, killing 24 and injuring more than 200. Eleven days later, the western suburbs of Oklahoma City were hit by another EF5 twister. Nineteen people were killed in the storm and the flooding that followed.

The dead included three storm chasers who were doing tornado research.

Or consider the Philippines.

In August, flooding killed eight and left 300,000 homeless around Manila, the capital.

In September, Typhoon Usagi, a category five storm, struck in September. A month later an earthquake shook one region of the country, killing dozens. In November, Super Typhoon Haiyan, another category five storm, ravaged a wide swath of the Philippines south of Manila, leaving 5,959 dead, nearly 1,800 missing and more than 27,000 injured, according to figures compiled a month after the storm.

The insurance industry has used the phrase “acts of God” to describe such events. But could the acts of man, not just the hand of God, be a factor?

“The climate scientists have been looking at this for decades now, and been looking at the subject of climate change, and have been speculating, really that the weather, because of the increased heat on the planet that increases moisture, would lead to some bigger weather events, and that would seem to be playing out around the globe,” said Dan Misleh, executive director of the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change.

Pope Francis has spoken directly about “climate change” once since becoming pope, but Pope Benedict XVI spoke about it several times, according to the Vatican website. In 2009 he said that amongst the “exigencies” which demand our attention, “not least of these are the menacing threats to God’s creation itself through climate change.

Perhaps more than ever before in our human history the fundamental relationship between Creator, creation and creature needs to be pondered and respected.”

Cyclone Phailin left nearly

nine million people affected along the east coast of India.

Phailin hit October 12 with winds of up to 120 m.p.h.; it devastated the coastal areas of Orissa and Andhra Pradesh states. Two dozen people were killed; nearly one million people were evacuated by the government ahead of the cyclone.

Hurricanes Ingrid and Manuel crashed into Mexico at the same time, Ingrid on the Gulf Coast and Manuel the Pacific Coast, in late September, dumping up to two feet of rain. Floods and mudslides in several states claimed more than 100 lives and left thousands homeless.

While the hurricane season in the United States was unusually light, tornado season extended from February to November.

More than 800 homes in Hattiesburg and other parts of southern Mississippi were destroyed or damaged by winds that reached 170 m.p.h. February 10. The National Weather Service said the EF4 tornado cut a path that was three-quarters of a mile wide. It cut right through Hattiesburg along a main street.

In 2005, the region was devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

A tornado ravaged Granbury, Texas, May 15. The deadly funnel cloud, one of several tornadoes that ripped through parts of north Texas, killed six, injured more than 100, left seven missing and destroyed more than 50 homes and trailers in one subdivision. The tornado that swept through Granbury with winds up to 200 m.p.h. was part of a larger weather system generating 10 funnel clouds, thunderstorms and large hail across north Texas.

On May 27, an EF2 tornado decimated two businesses and damaged many properties near Marysville, Kan. The next day more storms struck near Corning, producing EF3 and EF1 tornadoes. There were no fatalities but Father John Reynolds, pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Corning, with a background in meteorology and watching TV images of the power the storms unleashed, said that he had to see it firsthand to believe it. “The first thing people said was, ‘Everybody survived,’” Father Reynolds said. “Which — when you see this — is really kind of amazing.”

The town of Washington, Ill., suffered the last major tornado of the year November 17, as a twister destroyed 1,000 homes.

One person was killed and more than 100 were injured. It was the most powerful tornado to hit Illinois in November since 1885.

Despite the spate of tornadoes, Catholic Charities USA’s capacity was not strained as it had been in 2011 and ‘12, when Hurricane Irene, Tropical Storm Lee and Superstorm Sandy “pretty much eclipsed anything we had ever seen” since 2005, when Hurricanes Gustav, Ike and Katrina made landfall, said Samuel Chambers, vice president for disaster relief operations.

“Long after the national response is ‘over,’ those (local) communities are still left with whatever resources they have available. Catholic Charities will continue to respond because we have local agencies and affiliates,” Chambers said, “as long as resources last.”

Chambers reeled off several Southern states in harm’s way of hurricanes. “Now we’re discovering the Mid-Atlantic and the northern regions of the county have to be just as prepared,” he said. “Whether it’s relative to global warming or some unexpected chance occurrence, they have to rethink their strategies” so they can build “a more resilient community that is able to respond quicker.”

From September 11 to 15, rains created flooding and rivers that filled homes, tossed buildings, and swallowed infrastructure over an area of 20,000 square miles in northern Colorado. The homes of more than 16,000 families have been damaged or destroyed.

The Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in southwest France, known for its healing waters, could not cope with floods in the region that left much of the shrine complex underwater for two days in June — for the second time in eight months.

Floods earlier in June crippled parts of Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic as the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers reached their highest levels since the 16th century, cutting telephones and power supplies. Two died from the flooding, which caused millions of euros in damage.

When an overseas disaster strikes, “we need to ramp up in these areas: We need to get our crackerjack team up and running, we need to get our fund raising going,” said Sean Callahan, chief operating officer of Catholic Relief Services, the U.S. bishops’ international relief and development agency.

“In responding to the natural disasters, because of our expertise,” Callahan said, “we find that the turnaround, you can turn it

around much quicker and see the positive aspects much quicker. Things in looking a lot better in the Philippines just a month after the super typhoon, In Syria, we’ve been there two years now, and the situation continues to devolve. You get some fatigue of donors, even though the situation continues to deteriorate and you need more and more assistance.”

Nineteen members of an elite firefighting unit called the Granite Mountain Hotshots perished June 30 while battling an uncontrolled blaze that threatened the small Arizona towns of Yarnell and Peeples Valley. They were trapped when winds shifted, turning the fastmoving wildfire in their direction. The fire had scorched 8,400 acres and prompted the evacuation of about 1,000 residents of the two towns. More than 200 structures were destroyed, many of them homes.

A bigger wildfire earlier in June elsewhere in Arizona destroyed everything but the rock walls of Our Lady of the Sierras Marian Shrine, a hillside chapel in Hereford. But the heat from the fire turned the rock walls into a blast furnace, rendering the ciborium and pyx at the shrine blackened and virtually unrecognizable. This wildfire claimed more than 27,000 acres and 65 homes.

Then there’s the case of manmade disasters.

A massive explosion April 17 followed by a fire at a fertilizer plant in the Texas town of West killed 15, including first responders, and injured 200. The explosion cut a six-block swath of destruction across the town of 2,800.

An unattended runaway train barreled into Lac-Megantic, Quebec, July 6. The derailed train’s tanker cars, filled with crude oil, exploded and incinerated much of the downtown.

Fifty people were killed and 30 buildings were destroyed.

Just five months after a November 2012 fire at the Tazreen garment factory outside the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka claimed 117 lives and injured more than 200, an eight-story commercial building collapsed in a Dhaka suburb — on April 24.

Called Rana Plaza, it was used by companies making garments for Western clothing companies and retailers.

The search for the dead ended May 13 with a death toll of 1,129, with another 2,515 injured rescued from the building’s wreckage.

It is considered to be the deadliest garment-factory accident in history, as well as the deadliest accidental structural failure in modern human history.

The Anchor would make the perfect gift this Christmas for a loved one or a friend.

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18

Youth Pages

First- and second-graders from All Saints Catholic School in New Bedford were enthusiastic about all the great gifts they collected to help a needy family during Advent. Every class at All Saints, pre-k through eighth grade, had an Advent project goal this season.

First-grade students at St. Mary’s Catholic School, Mansfield, celebrated the Advent season with an art and writing project. Hand-drawn wreaths added a splash of color to the message “Jesus is the Light of the World.”

December 20, 2013

In honor of the feast day of St. Francis Xavier, the Acushnet school’s patron saint, Father Ron Floyd blessed the students with a relic from St. Francis Xavier. The SFXP community also concluded the praying of a novena in honor of St. Francis Xavier.

Seventh- and eighth-grade students at St. Pius X School in South Yarmouth recently participated in a Christmas Nativity scene.

Children from St. John the Evangelist School in Attleboro enjoyed the recent Attleboro Christmas Parade with Father Riley Williams.

Students in grades one through four from St. James-St. John School in New Bedford recently enjoyed a field trip to Plimoth Plantation in Plymouth.

December 20, 2013

I

t seems that there is always much more to do than the time available to do it. The solution? Slow down, prioritize and use the time you do have to do the things you need to do. Don’t be anxious — this takes up more of your time than you realize and not much gets accomplished.

This is one of the reasons we celebrate the season of Advent — slow down, rethink, prepare and do what’s important.

Severn was only a young girl of 12 years of age in 1992 when she felt anxious about the world we live in, specifically what we are doing to our environment. But, rather than worrying about the earth’s environment she decided, at 12 years old, to do something about it — she became be a steward of the earth. She went to Rio de Janeiro and spoke at the U.N. Earth Summit. She spoke for the Environmental Children’s Organization, a group of 12- and 13-year-olds from Canada trying to make a difference, an environmental difference in the world.

Youth Pages Don’t be anxious

Here is an excerpt from her speech.

“Coming here today I have no hidden agenda. I am fighting for my future. Losing my future is not like losing an election or a few points on the stock market. I am here to speak for all generations to come. I am here to speak on behalf of the starving children around the

By Ozzie Pacheco world whose cries go unheard. I am here to speak for the countless animals dying across this planet because they have nowhere left to go. We cannot afford not to be heard.

“In my life, I have dreamt of seeing the great herds of wild animals, jungles and rain forests full of birds and butterflies, but now I wonder if they will even exist for my children to see. Did you have to worry about

Be Not Afraid

these little things when you were my age? All this is happening before our eyes and yet we act as if we have all the time we want and all the solutions.

I’m only a child and I don’t have all the solutions, but I want you to realize, neither do you! If you don’t know how to fix it, please stop breaking it!

“Here, you may be delegates of your governments, business people, organizers, reporters or politicians — but really you are mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles — and all of you are somebody’s child. I’m only a child yet I know we are all part of a family. We all share the same air, water and soil — borders and governments will never change that. I’m only a child yet I know we are all in this together and should act as one single world towards one single goal. In my anger, I am not blind, and in my fear, I am not afraid to tell the world how I feel.”

Two days before giving this speech, Severn and other young members of her group experienced life in the favellas of Rio. They were shocked! One of the “street” children told them: “I wish I was rich and if I were, I would give all the street children food, clothes, medicine, shelter and love and affection.”

Severn ended her speech saying, “If a child on the street who has nothing is willing to share, why are we who have everything so greedy? You are what you do, not what you say.”

19 Severn approached this problem with a light touch. Her mind and heart were in sync and focused on God for her strength. When your mind moves toward a problem area, do you tend to focus on that situation so intensely that you lose sight of God? Do you pit yourself against the difficulty as if you had to conquer it immediately?

Your mind gears up for battle and your body becomes tense and anxious. Unless you achieve total victory, you feel defeated. There is a better way.

When a problem starts to overshadow your thoughts, bring this matter to God. Talk with Him about it and look at it in the light of His presence. This puts some much-needed space between you and your concern, enabling you to see from God’s perspective. You will be surprised at the results. Sometimes you may even laugh at yourself for being so serious about something so insignificant.

You will always face trouble in this life. But more importantly, you will always have God with you, helping you to handle whatever you encounter.

Approach problems with a light touch by viewing them in God’s revealing light. “Happy the people who know you, Lord, who walk in the radiance of Your Face” (Ps 89:16). “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:33).

Jesus came into the world a poor Child. But, all He had He gave. All of Himself! Unconditionally! Shouldn’t we do the same? “Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself” (Mt 6:34). Merry Christmas.

Anchor columnist Ozzie Pacheco is Faith Formation director at Santo Christo Parish, Fall River.

St. Nicholas visited Holy Family-Holy Name School in New Bedford during a weekly Advent prayer service. St. Nicholas led the students in the blessing of the Advent Wreath, and handed out candy canes and gold coins to all the good girls and boys. He also filled all the shoes that were left out in the hallway; a delight to all.

The Christmas spirit was alive and well at Coyle and Cassidy High School in Taunton. The annual National Honor Society Toy Shop gift drive, a tradition for more than 20 years, brings Coyle and St. Mary’s School in Taunton together for a united purpose; serving those less fortunate at this very special time of year. Toys of all shapes and sizes were donated and were distributed at the 14th annual Toy Shoppe which allowed families to experience first-hand the meaning of Christmas. While parents shopped with a personal shopper, their children were treated to a festive day of crafts and treats!

St. Joseph’s School in Fairhaven hosted its annual Holiday Bazaar and welcomed more than 30 vendors showcasing beautiful crafts, decorations, food, jewelry and everything else one could need to get into the spirit of Christmas. The St. Joseph School Glee Club performed an array of Christmas music for all to enjoy and had the honor of introducing Santa Claus. There was something for everyone, as visitors traveled through the halls and classrooms. A science show provided educational entertainment, while little ones could get their faces painted, shop for loved ones, and all could enjoy auction and raffle items, and even shop at an impressively organized yard sale!

The P.T.O. organized the successful event.

20 Local faithful take active role in trying to raise minimum wage

worked with UIA. He told The Anchor that he knows first-hand 1996, that promotes social and and in our state. In preparation I the four Catholic bishops in the struggles of making ends economic justice and improves did a little research and was very Massachusetts. Without the let- meet with an hourly wage of less the quality of life of all residents disappointed to learn how many ter they sent to pastors, it would than $9. “My brother and I live in Southeastern Massachusetts jobs even in a fairly affluent state have been more difficult. All with my grandmother and we with a specific focus on the as our own are minimum wage the pastors I encountered were both had jobs that paid barely cities of New Bedford, Fall jobs. The minimum wage in- very willing to give us a chance above the $8 minimum wage,” River and Dartmouth, by crease the initiative is seeking to collect signatures. Some even he said. “And with my grandrecruiting and training clergy would still not bring the mini- preached about it from the pul- mother’s Social Security income, it was difficult to get by. Luckily and lay leaders to act on issues mum wage up to parity with the pit.” we both have jobs that bring in a LaFleur also praised the effort of greatest concern, founding purchasing power level that exof her own pastor, Father John better salary, so I felt is was necsocial action on the teachings isted in 1968.”

Father Gastão Oliveira, pas- Raposo. “I couldn’t have asked essary to help out with the miniof our different faith traditions,” as defined on its website (www. tor of Santo Christo Parish in him to be more cooperative,” she mum wage petition drive to help out others who are in the same unitedinterfaithaction.org). shoes I was in.”

In addition to the minimum Burgo said the response he wage petition, the grassroots efreceived at his parish was very fort included the petition for all positive. “There were a few placemployees to obtain earned sick es in the city where we weren’t time. accepted so well, but at most “This was a state-wide effort,” places away from the parish the Liz Aeschlimann, UIA commuresponse was good. Many people nity organizer told The Anchor. in New Bedford are struggling “Working with Raise Up Masso they all wanted to help in a sachusetts, we enlisted the help small way. We even had some of clergy and parishes across the who asked how they could volarea. The goal is to raise the $8 unteer to help the drive.” minimum wage in the state to The Our Lady of Assump$10.50 by January of 2016 and tion drive brought in more than then indexed to inflation.”

Shane Burgo and Sister Marianna Sylvester from Our Lady of the AsSeveral parishes in the area sumption Parish in New Bedford display a couple of the many boxes 2,700 signatures.

All told, nearly 14,000 signatook an active role in the peti- of signed petitions advocating a raise in the state minimum wage tion drive, seeking signatures and the right to earned sick time recently delivered to the Common- tures were collected from efforts from diocesan parishes. from fellow parishioners and wealth’s general court.

Now that enough signatures then reaching out to neighborwere collected, verified and subing parishes and soliciting signa- Fall River, has been involved said. “As a matter of fact he held with UIA since 1998, and his a prayer group of area priests and mitted on time, the issues have tures at area events.

More than 20 parishes took was one of many parishes on other religious leaders at his rec- a chance to be made into law, in tory to pray for the success of the response to the petition drive. part in the recently-completed board with the petition drive.

Just one day before the signa“The minimum wage and petition drive and also to pray to drive that state-wide garnered 150,000 signatures for the mini- earned sick pay issues are more support the needs of the many, tures were submitted to local city mum wage issue and 130,000 for than politics,” he told The Anchor. many less fortunate in our area.” and town halls for certification, LaFleur and her assistants the state Senate passed a minithe earned sick time issue. The “These are social justice issues as number of certified signatures stated by the bishops of Massa- collected more than 3,000 sig- mum wage raise. At this point needed to place the petition be- chusetts. The parishioners here natures from St. Joseph’s, St. Mi- the House has to vote on it. It’s fore the Commonwealth’s general responded very well to the peti- chael’s, St. Bernard’s in Assonet, expected the minimum wage St. Dominic’s in Swansea and bill will come before the House court was 69,000 for each petition tion drive. sometime in January.

“We had several stations set other area parishes. to be submitted by November 20.

Should the House fail to pass Leonor Rego from Espirito up in our church hall by regions.

The effort met all the criteria.

“I’m very pleased to say that We have parishioners from Santo Parish in Fall River has a the bill, it will go to the ballot we were able to bring boxes of Dartmouth, New Bedford, Fall busy work schedule of her own, next year. Neither the Senate signed petitions from each of River, Somerset and Swansea. with a long daily commute, yet nor the House has acted on the the counties to the Secretary of More than 1,000 of our faithful took the time to volunteer to earned sick time bill at this time Driscoll from the Mass. gather signatures for both issues. the Commonwealth in Boston,” signed the petition.”

Margaret LaFleur, a member “I’ve seen it happen when a stu- Catholic Conference, quoting said Aeschlimann. “This was the first time in Massachusetts his- of UIA and a parishioner of St. dent comes out of high school the United States Conference tory that a group has gotten two Michael’s Parish in Fall River, or- or even college and there are no of Catholic Bishops, stated “‘The ballot issues certified through a ganized the petition effort at St. jobs, so they are forced to take Catholic Church has long been Michael’s and St. Joseph’s in Fall a job at minimum wage,” she a supporter of a strong economy grassroots effort.”

Father John Sullivan, pastor River. “I got involved because told The Anchor. “It’s a struggle supported by economic justice. of St. Patrick’s Parish in Ware- I really feel that all workers de- to make ends meet. I went to a As such, the Catholic Church ham told The Anchor that he serve respect, dignity and justice, meeting with Liz Aeschlimann teaches that society has a moral heard Aeschlimann speak at an no matter what their job is,” she and after I said ‘I have to do obligation, including governmental action where necessary, earlier deanery meeting. “When told The Anchor. “All people need something to help.’

“It’s what we have to do — to assure opportunity, meet bashe came to the deanery meet- a fair wage. That goes all the way help people who need it. And sic needs, and pursue justice ing I was very interested trying back to the Old Testament.” our youth need to know we care.” in economic life.’ Raising the LaFleur lauded the coopto help UIA out with gathering Rego said she received only minimum wage and allowing for signatures,” he said. “St. Patrick’s eration she encountered during Parish has a tradition of trying to the petition drive. “I received one negative comment from all adjustments for inflation would wonderful responses from the the people she asked to sign the assure greater economic justice help the disadvantaged.

“My college major was eco- parishioners in the churches I petition. “At church, work and at and opportunity for the poor and nomics and although I don’t re- visited 98 percent of the time. retail stores, everyone was very vulnerable within our society.

“Because of this, the Masally keep up with economic lit- People would say to me, ‘This is supportive,” she added.

Shane Burgo, a parishioner sachusetts Catholic Conference erature as much these days I am a wonderful thing you’re doing.’

“And this was made possible at Our Lady of the Assumption urges a favorable report for the horrified by the growth of the inequity of income in our world by the great cooperation from Parish in New Bedford, has also aforementioned legislation.” continued from page two

December 20, 2013 In Your Prayers Please pray for these priests during the coming weeks Dec. 21 Rev. Henri J. Charest, Pastor, St. Mathieu, Fall River, 1968 Rev. Manuel M. Resendes, Retired Pastor, Our Lady of Lourdes,Taunton, 1985 Rev. Laureano C. dos Reis, Retired Pastor, St. Anthony of Padua, Fall River, 1989 Dec. 22 Rev. Adriano Moniz, Retired Pastor, Our Lady of Angels, Fall River, 1964 Rev. Armand P. Paradis, S.J., Psychologist, San Francisco, Calif., 1991 Dec. 23 Rev. Owen J. Kiernan, Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Fall River, 1901 Rev. Charles P. Trainor, SS, St. Edward Seminary, Seattle, Wash., 1947 Rev. Msgr. John A. Silvia, Retired Pastor, St. John the Baptist, New Bedford, 1970 Rev. William E. Collard, Retired Pastor, St. Theresa, New Bedford, 1986 Dec. 24 Rev. James K. Beaven, Pastor, Sacred Heart, Taunton, 1886 Rev. Timothy J. Duff, Assistant, St. Joseph, Woods Hole, 1914 Dec. 27 Rev. Thomas J. Stapleton, Pastor, Corpus Christi, Sandwich, 1956 Rev. Msgr. Armand Levasseur, Retired Pastor, St. Anne, New Bedford, 1969 Rev. Manuel Andrade, Former Pastor, Our Lady of Health, Fall River, 1995 Dec. 28 Rev. Charles R. Smith, Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Fall River, 1955 Rev. Edward J. Sharpe, Pastor, St. Patrick, Somerset, 1987 Rev. Clement Paquet, O.P., Assistant, St. Anne, Fall River, 1987 Dec. 29 Rev. Rafeal Flammia, SS.CC., Retired Pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption, New Bedford, 1993 Dec. 30 Rev. Thomas C. Mayhew, Pastor, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Seekonk, 1991 Jan. 1 Rev. Jose Valeiro, Pastor, St. Elizabeth, Fall River, 1955 Rev. Antonio M. Fortuna, Pastor, Immaculate Conception, New Bedford, 1956 Rev. Francis R. Connerton, SS. STD., St. John’s Seminary, Plymouth, Mich., 1968 Rev. Leo T. Sullivan, Pastor, Holy Name, New Bedford, 1975 Jan. 4 Rev. Eugene L. Dion, Pastor, Blessed Sacrament, Fall River, 1961 Rev. Joseph L. Powers, Founder, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, No. Falmouth, 1999 Rev. Francis B. Connors, Retired Pastor, Our Lady of Victory, Centerville, 2003 Jan. 5 Rev. William McClenahan, SS.CC. Former Pastor, Holy Redeemer, Chatham, 1994 Jan. 6 Rev. James F. Roach, Founder, Immaculate Conception, Taunton, 1906 Rev. Rene G. Gauthier, Pastor, St. Jean Baptiste, Fall River, 1997 Jan. 7 Rev. Alfred R. Forni, Pastor, St. Francis of Assisi, New Bedford, 1970 Rev. Gustave Gosselin, M.S., La Salette Shrine, Attleboro, 1989 Rev. Jude Morgan, SS.CC., Former Pastor, Our Lady of Lourdes, Wellfleet, 2003 Rev. Raymond Robida, 2003 Jan. 8 Rev. John Kelly, Founder, St. Patrick, Fall River, 1885 Rev. Alfred J. Carrier, Founder, St. Jacques, Taunton, 1940 Rev. Arthur C. Lenaghan, USA Chaplain, Killed in Action, 1944 Rev. Evaristo Tavares, Retired, Our Lady of the Angels, Fall River, 2000 Rev. Louis Joseph, U.S. Air Force, 2000 Jan. 9 Rev. William F. Morris, Pastor, Corpus Christi, Sandwich, 1982 Jan. 10 Rev. Jourdain Charron, O.P., Dominican Priory, Fall River, 1919 Rev. George H. Flanagan, Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Fall River, 1938 Rev. Msgr. Emmanuel Sousa de Mello, Retired Pastor, Our Lady of Lourdes, Taunton, 1977

21

December 20, 2013

Music ministry enhances celebration of Christmas continued from page two

are appropriate and yet familiar to the congregation.

“During the Christmas season everyone likes to hear his or her favorites and we try to do nice arrangements of those; but we don’t do a lot of different music that people haven’t heard before because they wouldn’t really appreciate that — they like to hear what they know,” Grace said. “We may do one or two new things to make it sparkle, but it isn’t as though we spend weeks and weeks preparing for Christmas.”

“For me, the classics really say it all,” agreed Monica Ventura, organist and music director for Holy Cross Chapel in Fall River. “If you look at ‘Silent Night’ and ‘Oh, Holy Night,’ for instance — that’s it! There are lots of other beautiful carols and songs, but ‘Silent Night’ and ‘Oh, Holy Night’ are the basics right there.”

Ventura, who recently joined the ranks of music minsters serving the parishioners of St. Mary’s when the former SS. Peter and Paul Parish at Holy Cross Church became a mission of the cathedral earlier this year, will also be busy this Christmas with Masses at Holy Cross Chapel and St. Bernard’s Church in Assonet, where she’ll be providing music for the Midnight Mass and 10:30 a.m. Christmas Day Liturgy.

Like Grace, her musical selections will be a blend of the familiar with more traditional numbers.

“When you talk about Christmas, to me ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’ — that’s your opening hymn. The title alone says it all,” Ventura said. “The absolute classic for me is ‘Oh, Holy Night.’

That’s the big one. There are so many wonderful Christmas songs but, again, you want people to participate, so I try to pick things they know.”

One contemporary song that may not be as familiar to the congregation this year comes to the choir courtesy of pop singer Mariah Carey — a song she recorded entitled “Jesus, Born This Day.” “I mean it’s a (pop song), but it’s Liturgical music,” Ventura said. “We’ll be singing ‘Oh, Holy Night’ and an arrangement of ‘Silent Night’ with ‘Night of Silence’ — it’s two songs going at the same time, which is kind of interesting.”

While St. Mary’s Cathedral no longer celebrates Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, Grace needs to prepare for an impor-

tant 4 p.m. vigil Mass celebrated

by Bishop George W. Coleman that will be videotaped and then broadcast the following day at noon on WLNE Channel 6 as part of the diocese’s weekly television Mass apostolate.

Then she’ll be leading the choir for the 10 a.m. Christmas Day Liturgy at the cathedral.

“We did (have) Midnight Mass years ago, but people just fell away from it,” Grace said.

“For a while we had a 7:30 p.m (Christmas vigil) Mass, but I think for taping purposes it needs to be done earlier. And we are a parish in a downtown neighborhood where many elderly parishioners don’t want to come out at night.”

Even though she admitted “everybody loves Christmas music,” Grace said she puts the same time and effort into preparing for Christmas Mass as she does for every Sunday Liturgy.

“Our singers have a special fondness for carol settings by John Rutter, so we will sing his ‘Christmas Lullaby’ for the televised Mass,” Grace said. “It tells the Christmas story and its ‘Ave Maria’ refrain honors Mary.”

The singers also complement their voices with three octaves of hand bells that were donated by late choir member Alma Foley.

“We use them to add a joyful sound, for example, to the Christmas responsorial psalm and ‘Joy to the World,’” she said.

Grace may weave a traditional reverent Latin hymn like “O Magnum Mysterium” into the mix as well.

“Christmas music really can be done not just on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but it extends up until the feast of the Epiphany,” she said. “You can still find music that describes the Nativity during that time.”

As such, Grace’s work will continue beyond Christmas as she prepares for the Cathedral Carol Sing, which will be held on December 29 at 3 p.m.

“The theme for this year’s performance is ‘Christmas Then and Now,’ with some ancient and modern poetry readings about the Nativity,” Grace said.

“Along with familiar carols for everyone to sing, two carols new to the choir this year are ‘A Boy Was Born’ by Robert Farrell and ‘Te Laudamus’ by Alwyn Humphreys.”

Noting that “Mass is not a spectator sport,” Ventura said there’s a misconception that the choir is sometimes there to perform and the congregation

somewhere?’ But not very often; the Liturgy, and sometimes it they’ve pretty much left it up to works and sometimes it doesn’t,” me. When you choose a hymn, Grace said. “A lot of that depends should just sit there and be en- even without collaboration, and on the building, the acoustics, the tertained. it perfectly reflects the readings attitude of the celebrant, the mu“I hate to use the word enter- then I know the Holy Spirit sicians involved, whether or not tainment, because you should not somehow got through to us.” the cantor sees himself or herself be doing that at Mass,” she said.

Although she likes to chal- as a soloist or song leader — “But I absolutely agree that the lenge the choir, Grace is mind- there’s a lot that comes into play congregation should be joining ful to select music that suits their there. But we try our best and we in with the choir.” talents while remaining appro- get pretty good results.”

Hymns of praise, when com- priate for the setting.

Having been involved in mubined with appropriate Scripture “We don’t have the voices to sic ministry for more than 20 readings and the language of the sing ‘The Messiah,’ but we do years now, Ventura said she expeLiturgy, can greatly enhance the motets and carols and arrange- rienced something recently that celebration of the Lord’s Supper. ments like that,” she said. “It’s not made her appreciate the value of “When you combine mu- that I don’t think a couple of the using our God-given talents to sic with the right lyrics, it re- movements aren’t appropriate — honor Him. ally means something to people,” they are, if you have the voices to “We had no organ (during Ventura said. “You can have a do it. But we try to do things well Mass), but we had the choir so wonderful lector read something, with the people we have. I don’t we sang the Mass a cappella,” she but when it’s sung those words want to give them something said. “The best part of that Mass have a greater impact. You’re re- that they’ll fall short on.” for me was we could hear the inforcing the Scripture with muBeing of French-Canadian congregation (sing along). It was sic.” ancestry, Grace said she has a beautiful sound.

Grace sees the role of music a special fondness for French “To me, the best sound is hearministry a little differently.

Christmas carols, which she will ing all those people participating.

“Many churches feel there often incorporate into prelude Sometimes when you have an isn’t any need for a choir because music on the organ either before organ, you can’t hear them; but they think participation means Mass or during the season. you could hear all those voices in the people have to sing every“It’s been a goal for a long the church and it was absolutely thing and I don’t feel that way,” time to include more music in beautiful.” she said. “I think people have a right to sing a lot of the Mass itself, but I think they can be just as uplifted by hearing a polyphonic St. Dominic’s Parish in Swansea will be celebrating the Posada on piece (performed by a choir).

December 29 beginning at 2 p.m. in the parish center. Taken from “A congregation can certainly the Spanish word for “inn,” it is based on the Hispanic-American tradition of reenacting Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter for be uplifted by hearing something Jesus to be born and ultimately finding “no room at the inn.” The that they’re not capable of singevent is open to the public and a free-will offering will be accepting; and that’s participation as ed, with all proceeds going to benefit area homeless to provide well.” them a hot meal in the winter.

Having worked with a vast A Healing Mass with veneration of a St. André Bessette relic will be held at St. Jonumber of celebrants, concelseph Chapel at Holy Cross Family Ministries in Easton on January 6 at noon. St. ebrants, bishops and cardinals André was known as the wonder worker for healing thousands of the faithful at over the years, Grace said she’s the St. Joseph Oratory in Montreal. More than two million people visit his shrine each year. For more information call Holy Cross Family Ministries at 508-238considered herself lucky to have 4095 or visit www.FamilyRosary.org/Events. The St. Joseph Chapel is located at been able to select her own music 500 Washington Street in Easton. program for the most part.

“Most haven’t asked me to The ninth annual St. Mary’s Education Fund Winter Brunch will be held January 26 at the Coonamessett Inn in Falmouth beginning at 11:30 a.m. Proceeds will give them the music selections benefit the St. Mary’s Education Fund, which provides need-based scholarships in advance, but I always type to children in need of financial assistance to attend one of the schools in the Fall up a program and leave it in the River Diocese. For reservations or to make a donation, call Jane Robin at 508Sanctuary so that the celebrant 759-3566. will know what we’re going to An Emmaus retreat weekend for men and women ages 20 and over who seek to sing,” she said. “Occasionally grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ will be held at La Salette Retreat Censomeone will say: ‘Well, I really ter in Attleboro January 31 through February 2. The deadline to register is Jan. 3, like this hymn, could you fit it in 2014. For more information, email publicity@emmausretreats.com.

Around the Diocese

Marian Medal Awards Ceremony Available on Video The Nov. 24, 2013 Marian Medal Awards Ceremony is available on DVD from the Diocesan Office of Communications. The DVD cost is $24.95. To obtain one, please forward a check in that amount payable to the Diocesan Office of Communications, Diocese of Fall River, PO Box 7, Fall River, Mass., 02722.

Shipping is included in the video cost.

The Divorced and Separated Support Group of the Fall River Diocese meets on the second Thursday of every month in the parish center of St. Julie Billiart Church, 494 Slocum Road in North Dartmouth, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. For more information, contact Claire McManus, director of Faith Formation, at 508-6782828.

The Fall River Area Men’s First Friday Club meets nine times a year in honor of the Sacred Heart tradition on the first Friday of every month from October through June. Evenings begin with Mass celebrated at 6 p.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River, followed by a hot meal and speaker. The next meeting will be held on Jan. 3, 2014. For more information, contact club president Norm Valiquette at 508-672-8174 or Daryl Gonyon at 508-672-4822 or email rosorg@aol.com.

Bishop Connolly High School in Fall River is searching for missing alumni as the school plans for its 50th anniversary to take place during the 2015-2016 school year. If you or someone you know is an alumnus of Bishop Connolly High School and is not receiving communications from the school, please send your contact information via the school’s website at www.bishopconnolly.com; by email to Anthony Ciampanelli in the Alumni Office at aciampanelli@bishopconnolly.com; by phone at 508-676-1071 extension 333; or mail the school at 373 Elsbree Street, Fall River, Mass. 02720. Please provide the graduate’s name (including maiden name if appropriate), complete mailing address, telephone number, email address, and the year of graduation.

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December 20, 2013

Father Gilbert Joseph, OFM

BOSTON — Father Gilbert Joseph, OFM, age 88, of Boston’s North End and Buzzards Bay, died on December 7. Born Joseph Anthony, in Boston on Oct. 27, 1925, he was the son of Ralph and Anita (Rea) Silverio. He was received into the First Order on July 14, 1950 and made his temporary profession on July 15, 1951 at Immaculate Conception Novitiate in Troy,N.Y. He professed solemn vows on July 15, 1954 at Mount Alvernia Seminary in Wappingers Falls, N.Y. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 20, 1959 by the Most Rev. Bernardine Mazzarella, D.D., at Mount Alvernia Seminary, Wappingers Falls, N.Y. For many years he worked with great ardor in the ministry of secondary education.

He began at Christopher Columbus High School in the North End of Boston in July, 1961 and eventually assumed the leadership responsibility of principal from 1970 to 1982.

Father Gilbert’s other ministerial experiences included: Formation Team at St. Bonaventure Friary in Melrose; St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Derry, N.H. as pastor; St. Joseph Friary in Onset, as friary vicar and parochial vicar of St. Margaret/ St. Mary Churches in Buzzards Bay. In June, 1997, he was transferred to Convento San Francesco in Rome, first as administrator and then guardian as well as being a member of the Post-Novitiate Forma-

tion Team.

He remained in Rome until August, 2001.

Father Gilbert then returned to St. Joseph Friary in Onset. He served as pastor of St. Margaret/St. Mary parishes in Buzzards Bay, from 2002-2004.

He is the loving brother of Eugene Silverio and his wife Jean of Hingham, the late Theresa Paulicelli, John and Gaetano. He also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated in St. Margaret’s Church on December 11.

His body was interred at the Friars’ Mausoleum at Mount Alvernia Friary, Wappingers Falls, N.Y. J.S. Waterman and SonsWaring-Langone was in charge of the arrangements.

Marilyn (Lacroix) Caron, mother of Father Paul A. Caron

NEW BEDFORD — Marilyn (Lacroix) Caron, 91, of Mattapoisett died December 6, at St. Luke’s Hospital after a period of declining health.

She was the wife of the late Albert W. Caron Sr. Born in Taunton, the daughter of the late Charles and Grace (Lee) Lacroix,

she lived in Taunton while spending summers at Crescent Beach in Mattapoisett before moving there full time in 1979.

Mrs. Caron was a communicant of St. Anthony’s Parish, Mattapoisett.

She was proud to work as a nurse at Morton Hospital on Surgical II for 38 years. She retired in 1987 and was an active member of the Morton Hospital Retirees Association. Mrs. Caron continued to work doing private duty as a nurse as well as being the “nurse” of Crescent Beach.

Survivors include three sons, Albert W. Caron Jr. and his wife Eileen of Marion; Father Paul A. Caron, pastor of St. Anthony Church in Mattapoisett and St. Rita’s in Marion; and David C. Caron and his wife Jennifer of East Sandwich; four grandchildren, Stephanie Clark and her husband Jason, Andrea Bergner and her husband Andrew, Alexandra Caron and James A. Caron; and a great-grandson, Jack Austin Clark.

She also leaves behind the wonderful supportive community of Crescent Beach in Mattapoisett.

She was the sister of the late Janet Moniz and Rosemary Quigley.

Her family is grateful for the compassionate care she received at Sippican Health Care Center and St. Luke’s PCU. Her Funeral Mass was celebrated on December 13 in St. Anthony’s Church followed by burial in St. Anthony’s Cemetery. Donations in her memory may be made to St. Anthony’s Restoration Fund.

Eucharistic Adoration in the Diocese Acushnet — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Francis Xavier Parish on Monday and Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

Evening prayer and Benediction is held Monday through Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

ATTLEBORO — Eucharistic Adoration takes place in the St. Joseph Adoration Chapel at Holy Ghost Church, 71 Linden Street, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

ATTLEBORO — There is a Eucharistic Holy Hour Thursdays, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at St. John the Evangelist Parish, 1 St. John’s Place. Confession is also offered.

Brewster — Eucharistic Adoration takes place in the La Salette Chapel in the lower level of Our Lady of the Cape Church, 468 Stony Brook Road, on First Fridays beginning at noon until 7:45 a.m. First Saturday, concluding with Benediction and concluding with Mass at 8 a.m. buzzards Bay — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Margaret Church, 141 Main Street, every first Friday after the 8 a.m. Mass and ending the following day before the 8 a.m.

Mass.

East Freetown — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. John Neumann Church every Monday (excluding legal holidays) 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Our Lady, Mother of All Nations Chapel. (The base of the bell tower).

East Sandwich — The Corpus Christi Parish Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 324 Quaker Meeting House Road, East Sandwich.

Use the Chapel entrance on the side of the church.

EAST TAUNTON — Eucharistic Adoration takes place in the chapel at Holy Family Parish Center, 438 Middleboro Avenue, Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. On First Fridays, Eucharistic Adoration takes place at Holy Family Church, 370 Middleboro Avenue, from 8:30 a.m. until 7:45 p.m.

FAIRHAVEN — St. Mary’s Church, Main St., has Eucharistic Adoration every Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to noon in the Chapel of Reconciliation, with Benediction at noon. Also, there is a First Friday Mass each month at 7 p.m., followed by a Holy Hour with Eucharistic Adoration. Refreshments follow.

Fall River — Espirito Santo Parish, 311 Alden Street, Fall River. Eucharistic Adoration on Mondays following the 8 a.m. Mass until Rosary and Benediction at 6:30 p.m.

FALL RIVER — St. Bernadette’s Church, 529 Eastern Ave., has Eucharistic Adoration on Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the chapel.

FALL RIVER — St. Anthony of the Desert Church, 300 North Eastern Avenue, has Eucharistic Adoration Mondays and Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

FALL RIVER — Holy Name Church, 709 Hanover Street, has Eucharistic Adoration Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Our Lady of Grace Chapel.

FALL RIVER — Good Shepherd Parish has Eucharistic Adoration every Friday following the 8 a.m. Mass and concluding with 3 p.m. Benediction in the Daily Mass Chapel. A bilingual holy hour takes place from 2 to 3 p.m. Park behind the church and enter the back door of the connector between the church and the rectory.

Falmouth — St. Patrick’s Church has Eucharistic Adoration each First Friday, following the 9 a.m. Mass until Benediction at 4:30 p.m. The Rosary is recited Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.

MANSFIELD — St. Mary’s Parish, 330 Pratt Street, has Eucharistic Adoration every First Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., with Benediction at 5:45 p.m.

MASHPEE — Christ the King Parish, Route 151 and Job’s Fishing Road has 8:30 a.m.

Mass every First Friday with special intentions for Respect Life, followed by 24 hours of Eucharistic Adoration in the Chapel, concluding with Benediction Saturday morning followed immediately by an 8:30 Mass.

NEW BEDFORD — Eucharistic Adoration takes place 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 233 County Street, with night prayer and Benediction at 8:45 p.m., and Confessions offered during the evening. Please use the side entrance.

NEW BEDFORD — There is a daily holy hour from 5:15-6:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 1359 Acushnet Avenue. It includes Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Liturgy of the Hours, recitation of the Rosary, and the opportunity for Confession.

NEW BEDFORD — St. Lawrence Martyr Parish, 565 County Street, holds Eucharistic Adoration in the side chapel every Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

NORTH DARTMOUTH — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Julie Billiart Church, 494 Slocum Road, every Tuesday from 7 to 8 p.m., ending with Benediction. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available at this time.

NORTH DIGHTON — Eucharistic Adoration takes place every Wednesday following 8:00 a.m. Mass and concludes with Benediction at 5 p.m. Eucharistic Adoration also takes place every First Friday at St. Nicholas of Myra Church, 499 Spring Street following the 8 a.m. Mass, ending with Benediction at 6 p.m. The Rosary is recited Monday through Friday from 7:30 to 8 a.m.

OSTERVILLE — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 76 Wianno Avenue on First Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

SEEKONK ­— Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish has perpetual Eucharistic Adoration seven days a week, 24 hours a day in the chapel at 984 Taunton Avenue. For information call 508-336-5549.

Taunton — Eucharistic Adoration takes place every Tuesday at St. Anthony Church, 126 School Street, following the 8 a.m. Mass with prayers including the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for vocations, concluding at 6 p.m. with Chaplet of St. Anthony and Benediction.

Recitation of the Rosary for peace is prayed Monday through Saturday at 7:30 a.m. prior to the 8 a.m. Mass.

Taunton — Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament takes place every First Friday at Annunciation of the Lord, 31 First Street. Exposition begins following the 8 a.m.

Mass. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed, and Adoration will continue throughout the day. Confessions are heard from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. Rosary and Benediction begin at 6:30 p.m.

WAREHAM — Eucharistic Adoration at St. Patrick’s Church begins each Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. and ends on Friday night at midnight. Adoration is held in our Adoration Chapel in the lower Parish Hall.

WEST HARWICH — Our Lady of Life Perpetual Adoration Chapel at Holy Trinity Parish, 246 Main Street (Rte. 28), holds perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. We are a regional chapel serving all of the surrounding parishes. All from other parishes are invited to sign up to cover open hours. For open hours, or to sign up call 508-430-4716.

23

December 20, 2013

Advent and Christmas at STONEHILL COLLEGE

The Stonehill College community recently gathered in the Chapel of Mary for Lessons and Carols on the Easton campus.

Santa Claus reads to children of Stonehill alumni in the Martin Institute at Stonehill College.

Father Stephen Wilbricht, C.S.C., presides at the Lessons and Carols in the Chapel of Mary at Stonehill College.

The Chapel of Mary Choir performs at Lessons and Carols at Stonehill College in Easton.

Santa Claus arrives to meet with children of Stonehill alumni in the Martin Institute at Stonehill College.

Students listen attentively at the recent Lessons and Carols in the Chapel of Mary at Stonehill College.

24

December 20, 2013

Sandy Hook remembered one year later continued from page two

Father André “Pat” Patenaude (top photo) lent his voice to the service, sharing the singing with four young participants.

During the service, candles lit up name cards: Josephine Gay (age seven), Lauren Rousseau (age 30) and Jessica Rekos (age six) are three of the 26 victims shot at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

(Photos by Becky Aubut)

“peace poems” written by children from around the nation and the world.

While watching an interview of a parent who lost her child, Father Puthusseril said he was moved by her words; “The mother of one of these children said how they wanted Newtown to be known, not just as the place where this tragedy happened, but as a story of hope,” said Father Puthusseril. And that the current battle over the legislation about gun control should work “to encourage more conversation about why there is so much violence.”

“I thought it was a beautiful insight,” he added.

According to news reports, many thought the Newtown tragedy would be the catalyst to force Congress to approve stalled legislation to tighten U.S. gun laws. Led

by President Obama, gun control advocates called for deeper background checks for all gun purchasers, and a ban on assault weapons and highcapacity ammunition magazines. A year later, gun rights

lobbyists, including the National Rifle Association, have stymied all efforts and Congress has yet to enact any new gun laws.

Talking about those fighting changes in the legislature and being angry over the lack of response “won’t bring us peace,” said Father Puthusseril. “It’s not us against them; it has to be all of us working together for the common good.

I think the people from Newtown, out of their sadness, are giving us a source of hope.”

Their faith is helping them through the tragedy, just as our faith tells us to forgive, said Father Puthusseril, who acknowledged there were 28 candles and name cards below the altar — 26 for the school victims, one for Lanza’s mother and one for Lanza himself — and that “it’s difficult for you to see Adam Lanza’s name there, but you should pray for those suffering from mental illness,” said Father Puthusseril.

Before closing out the service, Father Puthusseril reminded all those in attendance that Jesus is the true light of the world, and “to not seek glory for ourselves, but to give glory to God and to spread His message of Good News.”

Paper peace dove ornaments were given out, with Father Puthusseril asking those present to write one thing each individual could do to bring Jesus’ love to others during this Christmas season, and to hang them on their tree at home. When the service ended, individuals were encouraged to take a candle and name card (glow sticks were provided when the candles were all taken), and the group processed in a line out to the outdoor Nativity where they paid tribute to the victims.

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